The joy over the Austrian football team’s qualification for the European Championship in Germany is overshadowed by attack plans by the Islamic State (IS) terrorist militia. Local police officers will help protect against terrorism, so there will be constant border controls at the German-Austrian border during the EURO.
When our national team challenges France in front of more than 50,000 fans in Düsseldorf on June 17, eyes will not only be on stars like Marko Arnautovic or Kylian Mbappé. Because, as with the tournaments in France in 2016 and those across Europe in 2021, the threat of terrorism has a firm grip on the continent.
IS branch Khorasan “more fanatical than Taliban”
Reason: Days ago, a photo montage appeared in a propaganda magazine of the terrorist organization IS called “The Voice of Khorasan”. It shows a fighter standing armed in a stadium. “Where do you want to go?” is the question that is asked. ‘Then shoot the last goal’ is aimed at motivating supporters of the IS branch, which is considered ‘more fanatical than the Taliban’ and has been blamed for an attack on a concert hall near Moscow that left more than 140 dead fell.
Three locations, Berlin, Munich and Dortmund, are mentioned as destinations. Austria will also play against Poland on June 21 and against the Netherlands on June 25, both in Berlin. And will be joined there by around 20,000 home fans, as was said on Monday during a press conference on the “UEFA EURO 2024 task force” with Interior Minister Gerhard Karner.
Schengen is suspended during the European Championship
The task force also plays an important role in the preparation because of the experience gained during the 2008 European Championship in our own country. As you are a transit country for fans from other countries, border and airport controls will be intensified and Schengen will be destroyed for the duration of the European Championship. In concrete terms, this means that there will be continuous checks at the German-Austrian border crossings during the EURO. Terror alert level 4 out of 5 applies for the time being.
80 public viewings were reported in the country – and the trend is rising sharply. These are unlikely to be possible without increased police presence and checks.
Drone and car attacks are scenarios
In Germany, 25 police officers from Austria will be available to protect the fans and the team – one officer accompanies the team almost around the clock. Generally this is called “increased danger without any concrete indication”. The Austrian games are considered “low risk”. Yet people prepare for attacks – for example with drones that drop explosives – or by vehicles.
But fans don’t have to give up contact with their stars completely. The EM district, the Schlosshotel Berlin, has been cordoned off. However, there will be public training – dates will be announced later.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
