Cologne - Terror alert: detentions and further protection for Dom
In connection with the terror alert for Cologne Cathedral, the police remain vigilant even after further suspects have been taken into custody. Until further notice, the cathedral on the Rhine will be protected by officers. "There will continue to be security checks at the cathedral," said a spokesperson on Monday. How long is currently being examined. Five men have been taken into custody since Christmas Eve. Three of them were released on New Year's Day.
Meanwhile, New Year's Eve, for which the police had prepared with many officers due to indications of a possible Islamist attack plan, passed without incident.
Massively tightened security measures have been in place around Cologne Cathedral since Christmas. Information about a possible attack scenario had been received shortly beforehand. According to the Cologne police, they related to New Year's Eve and the turn of the year. On Christmas Eve, police initially took a 30-year-old Tajik man into custody in Wesel "to avert danger".
On New Year's Eve, four more suspects were then added. Investigators initially arrested three men aged 25, 30 and 38 in Duisburg, Herne and Nörvenich in the district of Düren in the morning. They were said to be of Tajik and Uzbek nationality respectively. In the evening, a 41-year-old man was taken into custody in Bochum. He has both German and Turkish citizenship, a spokesperson said.
On Monday evening, the Cologne police announced that three of the four men had been released. This had been decided by a judge. A 25-year-old Tajik, however, will remain in police custody for a period of 14 days "after a thorough examination of the case".
The police assume that there is a network behind the possible attack plans. They spoke of a "network of people from Central Asia". An attack was to be carried out with a car, said Cologne police chief Johannes Hermanns on New Year's Eve. According to Frank Wißbaum, head of operations, the underground car park under the cathedral was also searched in the hours before the New Year - but nothing was found.
The 30-year-old arrested on Christmas Eve was taken into long-term custody until January 7. According to the Cologne police, a judge is now examining how long the custodial measures against the four suspects arrested on New Year's Eve will be maintained. However, long-term custody has also been requested for them.
New Year's Eve remained without any major incidents at Cologne Cathedral. Cologne Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki celebrated an end-of-year mass with the faithful under heavy police protection. 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.
"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 remains guaranteed in our country," said Woelki at the start of the mass.
Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) explained that we know that the threat situation from Islamist terrorism has intensified. "It is good that the North Rhine-Westphalian police, in close coordination with the federal security authorities, took action against possible Islamist terror threats yesterday as well and took comprehensive protective measures at Cologne Cathedral," she said on Monday.
"After the tip-off about a possible attack scenario for Cologne Cathedral, we did everything in our power to protect the population," explained Cologne's police chief Johannes Hermanns. They were glad that people were able to celebrate New Year's Eve - "even with increased protective measures".
Police statement on the danger warning for the cathedral (December 23) Police statement on security measures at Cologne Cathedral (December 26) Police statement on long-term detention for 30-year-old (December 26) Cathedral services in the cathedral Press conference on December 31, 2023 Police statement on New Year's Eve
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Source: www.stern.de
