Terror alert - New Year's Eve at Cologne Cathedral under strict protection
After a terror alert, the turn of the year was celebrated at Cologne Cathedral under high security measures. However, everything was largely calm. "A few firecrackers thrown, a few people taken into custody, nothing unusual," said a police spokesperson early on Monday morning at around 1.30 am. Most of the revellers had also complied with the ban on firecrackers in parts of Cologne city centre. It was largely peaceful on the Domplatte and the station forecourt.
On Sunday evening, the police announced that three more suspects had been arrested - in Duisburg, Herne and Nörvenich in the district of Düren. Apartments there had also been searched. One attack was to have been carried out with a car, said Cologne police chief Johannes Hermanns. It had emerged that the Tajik, who had already been taken into custody on Christmas Eve, was part of a larger network that also extended to other German states and other European countries.
Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki celebrated an end-of-year mass in Cologne Cathedral on Sunday evening under heavy police protection. "I would like to thank our security forces, who began protecting this cathedral in the days leading up to Christmas and also protecting us, so that we can celebrate religious services and the fundamental right to freely practise our religion continues to be guaranteed in our country," said Woelki at the beginning of the mass.
Those attending the service first had to pass through a security gate in tents set up in front of the main entrance. Large bags or laptops were not allowed to be taken into the cathedral. Woelki thanked the faithful for not being deterred by the security measures. The cathedral was well filled.
Shortly before Christmas, the police had received information about a possible Islamist plan to attack Cologne Cathedral on New Year's Eve. The 30-year-old Tajik was then taken into custody on Christmas Eve in Wesel "to avert danger" when special units searched an apartment. He is suspected of having spied on the cathedral.
On Friday, the police had announced strict security measures for the cathedral and surrounding area for New Year's Eve - including the deployment of police officers with submachine guns. According to the head of operations, Frank Wißbaum, on Sunday evening, the underground car park under the cathedral was also searched in the hours before the New Year - but nothing was found. Security measures had already been increased for the Christmas celebrations.
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The terror alert led to a heightened security presence not only at Cologne Cathedral but also in Duisburg, Herne, and Nörvenich in North Rhine-Westphalia. Despite the arrests and searches, Johannes Hermann, the police chief, confirmed that an attack involving a car was planned. The terror alert also affected festivities in other parts of Germany, as demonstrated by the strict security measures implemented in Cologne for both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, who celebrated a mass in Cologne Cathedral on Saint's Eve, spoke highly of the police force's diligence in ensuring the safety of the congregation and the cathedral. This was evident even before the New Year's Eve celebrations, as police officers with submachine guns were deployed and the underground car park was searched meticulously.
In response to the Christmas Eve arrest of a Tajik suspect, Woelki expressed gratitude to the attendees for their understanding and compliance with the strict security measures. The vigilance of the police and the cooperation of the public were clearly essential in the face of the terror alert.
Despite the growing concern surrounding terrorism in Germany, the New Year's Eve celebrations at Cologne Cathedral proceeded relatively peacefully, with only a few minor incidents, such as the throwing of firecrackers and the detention of a few revellers. Even so, the police spokesperson acknowledged that the situation could have been worse, given the heightened level of alert.
The overall security measures for the New Year's Eve celebrations in Cologne were extensive, with police patrolling the area ensureterrorism concerns and prevent any potential threats. The police, with their submachine guns visible and in plain sight, served as a constant reminder of the seriousness of the situation, as authorities remained vigilant to prevent any incidents of criminality.
Source: www.stern.de
