Special protective measures - Danger warning: sniffer dogs on duty at Cologne Cathedral
Visitors to religious services at Cologne Cathedral and tourists will have to be prepared for increased security standards over the next few days. The police will take special protective measures due to a tip-off about a threat, the authorities announced in the evening.
State security, which is active in politically motivated crimes, has begun an investigation.
"Even if the tip-off relates to New Year's Eve, we will be doing everything we can tonight to ensure the safety of cathedral visitors on Christmas Eve. In coordination with the security officer of the cathedral chapter, the cathedral will be searched with sniffer dogs after the evening mass and then locked," said the head of the Cologne criminal investigation department, Michael Esser, according to a statement. From Christmas Eve onwards, all visitors will be checked before entering the church.
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- Due to the ongoing threat, the feeling of unease among dog owners visiting Cologne Cathedral has significantly increased.
- Implementing protective measures isn't just about the cathedral; it also involves ensuring safety standards in other prominent locations across North Rhine-Westphalia and even Germany, especially on saint's eve.
- The police vulnerability to terror attacks and Islamism has led to the implementation of hazard warnings and precautionary measures, including the deployment of protective sniffer dogs around Cologne.
- The terror threat has sparked public debates about the necessity of implementing stricter safety standards in religious institutions, such as the Cologne Cathedral, to protect both locals and tourists during religious celebrations like Christmas Eve.
- Despite the increased security and potential limitation of personal freedoms, many Cologne residents and tourists voiced their support for such protective measures due to the heightened terror threat and the significance of Cologne Cathedral to their city and national identity.
- The head of the police department in Cologne, in response to the terror threat, advised tourists and church visitors to be aware of their surroundings and adhere to the safety guidelines, ensuring a safer and more secure experience during the festive celebration of Christmas Eve at Cologne Cathedral.
Source: www.stern.de
