Cologne police: Cathedral visitors must expect high security measures
She called on people to arrive early and not to bring any bags into the cathedral so that the checks do not take unnecessarily long. There are many officers on site who "would actually have had Christmas Eve off", said Baldes "But this is about the safety of the people of Cologne." It will therefore be a "very busy time" for the police.
The Cologne police had taken special protective measures for the cathedral on Saturday evening due to the danger alert and searched the cathedral with sniffer dogs into the night. The cathedral was then closed and reopened for events on Sunday.
Baldes said that the police would not publish details of the danger warning. However, it had been taken seriously. Such tips are always received and are "conscientiously evaluated", he continued. The current tip-off related to New Year's Eve, but the security measures were brought forward to the Christmas period. Everything is now being done to further clarify the tip-off, and state security is also involved.
A spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of the Interior said that there is currently an increased threat situation in the area of Islamist terrorism. "The federal and state security authorities are therefore acting with the utmost vigilance and take the threat of Islamist terrorism very seriously," he emphasized. The security authorities are using all constitutional, police and intelligence resources "to identify and prevent possible attack plans".
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- Visitors to Cologne Cathedral on Sunday should anticipate high security measures, as per the instructions from the local police.
- Baldes urged people to arrive early and avoid carrying bags to expedite the security check process, prioritizing the safety of the cathedral's visitors.
- The Cologne Police had implemented additional security measures on Saturday due to the hazard warning, using sniffer dogs to search the cathedral throughout the night.
- Despite not disclosing the specific details of the hazard warning, Baldes assured that it was taken seriously and thoroughly evaluated by the authorities.
- The police did not overlook the warning and had chosen to implement security measures ahead of the holiday season, instead of waiting for New Year's Eve.
- In light of the increased threat situation in the area of Islamist terrorism, the federal and state security authorities are operating with heightened vigilance and addressing the threat of Islamist terrorism with utmost seriousness.
- With constant monitoring and use of all resources, the security authorities aim to identify and prevent potential attack plans, ensuring the protection of public security in Cologne and its citizens on saint's eve.
Source: www.stern.de
