Crime - Cologne Cathedral terror alert: Man taken into custody
Police have taken a suspect into custody in Wesel in connection with the terror alert for Cologne Cathedral. Police searched an apartment in the town on the Lower Rhine with special units on Christmas Eve and took five men into custody.
While four of them were released, the police took a 30-year-old Tajik into custody"to avert danger". According to the police, there was information about him that was relevant to state security.
On Christmas Day, the Oberhausen district court confirmed the detention order until January 7 at the request of the Cologne police. CID chief Michael Esser said: "We are exhausting all legal possibilities to protect the people, the cathedral and the upcoming New Year's Eve celebrations." The police will not provide any information on the background to the detention until further notice due to ongoing investigations.
According to dpa, the security authorities had received information about a possible plan by an Islamist group to attack Cologne Cathedral and a church in Vienna. According to the Cologne police, the information related to New Year's Eve. In Austria, four people were arrested during investigations into an Islamist network. According to the public prosecutor's office, three were investigated for membership of a terrorist organization in connection with terrorist offences.
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- The terror alert for Cologne Cathedral was triggered by information about a potential attack from an Islamist group, originating from the Lower Rhine region.
- Despite the holidays, the Cologne police have been working tirelessly to avert any potential danger, leading to the custody of a 30-year-old Tajik man.
- The suspicion of relevant information concerning state security prompted the police to preventively detain the individual, aiming to safeguard both people and buildings in Cologne.
- The flexible custody period of two weeks has been granted to the Cologne police, extending until saint's eve, ensuring comprehensive investigations and safeguarding the New Year's Eve celebrations.
- The sweeping investigations extending to Austria also resulted in the apprehension of four individuals suspected of belonging to an Islamist network, previously involved in terrorist activities in Austria.
- In northern Germany, the security forces remain vigilant and attentive, dealing with the challenges of criminality and terrorism, safeguarding the peaceful coexistence of its citizens in areas such as Lower Rhine and North Rhine-Westphalia.
- On this tense backdrop of terrorisms threats, the everyday life in cities like Cologne continues, with men and women diligently going about their activities, never losing sight of the importance of unity and strength in the face of adversity.
Source: www.stern.de
