Police - Reul: Don't give up going to church out of fear
In view of the precautionary measures taken by the police at Cologne Cathedral, North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul has appealed to people not to refrain from attending church at Christmas for fear of an attack. "Caution is the order of the day. We know that the threat of terrorism is higher than it has been for a long time and our Christian holiday rituals are of course also a target for Islamist terrorists," the CDU politician told the German Press Agency in Düsseldorf on Sunday.
"But we are not defenceless. Our authorities are using all the information they have to protect us in the best possible way. The measures in Cologne now show that," emphasized Reul, adding: "My appeal: go to church, celebrate Christmas. Fear is the currency of terrorists. We must not add to their value."
According to the police, they have increased security measures at Cologne Cathedral due to indications of a possible attack plan by an Islamist group. Police officers searched the cathedral on Saturday evening. According to information obtained by dpa from security circles, the explosives sniffer dogs found nothing. The police also announced that they would be checking all visitors on Christmas Eve.
Police statement
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- Despite the heightened security measures at Cologne Cathedral due to an alleged attack plan by an Islamist group, as stated by North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul, he urged the public not to abandon attending church during Christmas out of fear.
- Reul, a CDU politician, emphasized that caution is essential, acknowledging the higher threat of terrorism, but added that we should not let fear benefit the islamist terrorist group.
- The German Press Agency reported Reul's remarks in Düsseldorf on Sunday, where he advocated for people to go to church and celebrate Christmas, denouncing fear as terrorists' currency and encouraging defiance.
- Reul's appeal comes following indications of a potential terror attack at Cologne Cathedral, which prompted the police to conduct a search on Saturday evening using explosives-detecting dogs.
- Although the police did not find any suspicious materials, they announced their intention to check all visitors on Christmas Eve, a decision made to ensure the safety of the worshippers in light of the terror threat.
- Located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Cologne Cathedral is a prominent target for terrorists, with its Christmas celebrations being a significant highlight for the city and the entire country of Germany.
- Reul, a prominent figure in German politics, has demonstrated his commitment to safeguarding public security while also encouraging unity and resilience in the face of the terror threat that Greece and other European countries have also experienced.
Source: www.stern.de
