Three more suspects were arrested on Sunday in connection with a planned terrorist attack on Cologne Cathedral. The attacks took place in Duisburg, Herne and Nörvenich in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Apartments were also searched there. It turned out that the Tajik, who was arrested on December 24, was part of a larger network that also extends to other states and other European countries.
Car as a weapon
The attack was allegedly carried out with a car, Cologne police chief Johannes Hermanns said at a press conference. The Minister of the Interior of North Rhine-Westphalia, Herbert Reul (CDU), spoke of a “success, for which I would like to thank the researchers.”
Islamist extremists have always been active, but are currently more active than usual. “The police always try to be a few steps ahead.” The thousand or so police officers deployed around the cathedral on New Year’s Eve do everything they can to ensure the safety of those celebrating. So far nothing unusual has been found.
Shortly before Christmas, the police received information about a planned Islamist terrorist attack on Cologne Cathedral.
Austria on edge
Three people believed to be part of the network were also arrested in this country shortly before Christmas.
According to the Directorate of State Security and Intelligence (DSN), there is “currently no evidence of a concrete threat to New Year’s Eve events,” DSN deputy director Michael Lohnegger emphasized.
Terror alert level 4 in effect
The Ministry of the Interior invited people to a press conference on Friday to present the police measures intended to ensure a safe New Year for the population. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) spoke of a “particularly challenging day”.
On New Year’s Eve, the executive branch “will do everything humanly possible so that the people of this country can start the new year well and welcome the new year cheerfully,” Karner said.
Terror alert level 4 has been in effect in this country since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. The associated increased protection measures – both visible and hidden – remain in force – “for the entire federal territory”, as the Minister of the Interior emphasized. Special and operational units of the executive branch will also be present after New Year’s Eve and technical aids such as drones will also be used as additional security measures.
Source: Krone
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