The German police announced on Saturday December 23 evening that they would carry out searches in Cologne Cathedral (west) in search of explosive devices in particular, following a “danger notice” issued for December 31. “Even if the information relates to New Year’s Eve, from this evening we will do everything we can to ensure the safety of visitors to the cathedral on Christmas Eve”Cologne police chief Michael Esser was quoted as saying in a statement.
After evening mass and “in agreement with the security manager of the cathedral chapter”the cathedral is searched with sniffer dogs, police said. “On Sunday, all visitors will be screened before entering the place of worship”it is specified in the press release. “The police and the cathedral chapter recommend giving up bags and arriving early to masses”it is still written.
The German daily Bild claims on its website that security services in Austria, Germany and Spain have received indications that an Islamist group wants to carry out several attacks in Europe possibly on New Year’s Eve and Christmas. According to the newspaper, the targets of these attacks could be Christmas masses in Cologne, Vienna and Madrid. He also claims that the first arrests by special forces took place on Saturday in Vienna, as well as one in Germany.
Increased surveillance in Austria
Austrian police also announced on Saturday that they were intensifying their surveillance, especially around churches, religious events and Christmas markets in Vienna. “Terrorist actors in Europe are calling for attacks against Christian events, especially around December 24”she said in a press release.
“Due to the current evolution of the risk (…) and the continually rising terrorist alert level, there is overall an increased risk in Austria during the Christmas holidays”continues the press release.
On Friday, the French Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, called on the prefects to “maintain extreme vigilance” due to “very high level of terrorist threat”. On the same day, five people were arrested in Meurthe-et-Moselle and taken into custody by the intelligence services as part of an investigation opened for “criminal terrorist association”. According to a source close to the case, those arrested belong to the Islamist movement.