Police report three more arrests over plans to attack Cologne Cathedral
Cologne's police chief Johannes Hermanns said that the three detainees were connected to a Tajik who was arrested in Wesel on Christmas Eve. The background to this is a suspected plot to attack Cologne Cathedral. Investigations had revealed that the suspected attack was apparently to be carried out using a car - "we don't know how", said Frank Wißbaum, head of the Cologne police traffic directorate.
Officers had then investigated the underground car park under Cologne Cathedral with explosives detection dogs, he said - but nothing suspicious had been found. "As things stand, we haven't found anything that points to an immediate attack," said Wißbaum.
However, the protective measures had been increased once again, he continued. Since the afternoon, "around 1000 police officers have been on special duty just to protect the cathedral and the population in Cologne city center", said Wißbaum.
Interior Minister Reul was convinced of the effectiveness of the protective measures. "The police have taken all precautions to ensure that citizens can celebrate a safe New Year's Eve," said the CDU politician. "I believe that people in Cologne can celebrate calmly today."
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- Johannes Hermann, the police chief in Cologne, connected the three recent arrests to a Tajik individual who was apprehended in Wesel on Saint's Eve.
- The alleged attack on Cologne Cathedral was linked to a suspected plan involving the use of a car, according to Frank Wißbaum, head of the Cologne police traffic directorate.
- Johannes Hermann mentioned that the investigation into the plot was ongoing in North Rhine-Westphalia, the German state where Cologne is located.
- Police officers carried out an inspection of the cathedral's underground car park with explosives detection dogs but found no evidence of a possible attack.
- Herbert Reul, the Interior Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, expressed his belief in the effectiveness of the protective measures put in place for New Year's Eve in Cologne.
- After the arrests, an increased police presence was deployed around Cologne Cathedral and the city center, with about 1000 officers on special duty.
- The police had uncovered attack plans on Cologne Cathedral and had been raising protective measures since November, according to reports.
- Because of the heightened security, Cologne residents could celebrate New Year's Eve safely, thanks to the police forces' dedication in their pursuit and prevention of potential attacks.
- Johannes Hermann commanded an attack plan was in force within North Rhine-Westphalia state after the latest arrests, with close collaboration between regional and national police forces.
- Recent developments show that there might be potential threats to public safety during saint's eve and New Year's Eve, eroding a sense of safety that the residents of Cologne have come to expect.
Source: www.stern.de
