The German police announced this Sunday the arrest of three “Islamists” suspected of wanting to commit an attack on New Year’s Eve in the cathedral of Colonywest of Germany. The three detainees are part of”an Islamic group”Herbert Reul, interior councilor for the North Rhine-Westphalia region, where Cologne is located, said during a press conference.
Reul specified that security measures have been strengthened around the monumental Gothic cathedral, with the deployment of around 1,000 officers.
Cologne police chief Johannes Hermann said he suspected the three detainees had links to a man from Tajikistan, whom German security forces had arrested on Christmas Eve.
According to the Bild newspaper, these four “Islamists” are of Tajik nationality and wanted commit attacks on behalf of the Islamic State in Afghanistan.
“Islamic groups” are “now more active than ever”, the North Rhine-Westphalia Interior Councilor warned.
Three men are accused of preparing an attack on Cologne Cathedral. Photo: AFPHowever, Reul assured that the planned New Year’s Eve celebrations in Cologne will be maintained.
In recent weeks, Germany has raised its anti-terrorism alert level due to the possible repercussions of the war in Gaza.
The bloodiest jihadist attack in Germany occurred in December 2016, with a truck attack on the Berlin Christmas market, in which 12 people died.
Source: Clarin
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