After the terrorist alarm for Cologne Cathedral, three more suspects were arrested on Sunday. The attacks took place in Duisburg, Herne and in Nörvenich in the Düren district. Apartments there were also searched. The attack was supposed to have been carried out with a car, Cologne police chief Johannes Hermanns said at a press conference.
It turned out that the Tajik, who was taken into custody on Christmas Eve, was part of a larger network that also extends to other federal states and other European countries.
Shortly before Christmas, the police received information about a possible Islamist attack plan on Cologne Cathedral, which was related to New Year’s Eve. The 30-year-old Tajik was then taken into custody in Wesel on Christmas Eve “to avert danger” when special forces searched an apartment. He is suspected of spying on the cathedral.
Reul: “Islamist terror is a danger on German streets”
With a view to the latest detentions, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU) spoke of a “success”. Islamist extremists are currently more active than usual. “The police are always trying to be a few steps ahead.” The approximately 1,000 police officers who are deployed around the cathedral on New Year’s Eve are doing everything they can to ensure the safety of those celebrating. Operations manager Frank Wißbaum said the underground car park under the cathedral was also searched – but nothing was found. Explosives detection dogs were used. The entrance and exit to the underground car park has also been checked since early morning.
Reul told the German Press Agency that it was not surprising that such an outstanding Christian building as Cologne Cathedral was becoming the focus of Islamist terrorists. “That didn’t surprise anyone.” There is always an abstract risk of attack. “Islamist terror is still a danger on German streets,” said Reul. “We’ve often suppressed that. And whenever there’s a one-off event like that, we’re all very electrified.” But it would be wrong to panic, says Reul. “I say: celebrate! Behave yourself! Pay attention – and enjoy the transition into the new year!”
On Friday, the police announced strict protective measures for the cathedral and the surrounding area for New Year’s Eve – including the use of police officers with submachine guns. Security precautions had already been increased for the Christmas celebrations. The cathedral was initially closed to tourists; only church services took place.
In addition to the tip-off about the possible attack plan in Cologne, the security authorities had also received a tip-off before Christmas about a possible planned attack on a church in Vienna. In Vienna, too, the police increased security measures at Christmas. The Austrian Office for the Protection of the Constitution arrested four people on December 23rd. Two men and a woman were ordered to be remanded in custody over the Christmas period. She is being investigated for belonging to a terrorist organization in connection with terrorist crimes, it was said a few days ago.
