Cologne - Terror alert: Police arrest further suspect
The police have arrested another suspect in connection with a possible planned terrorist attack on Cologne Cathedral. This was announced by the officers on New Year's Day. The suspect is a 41-year-old man who was taken into custody in Bochum on New Year's Eve. He has both German and Turkish citizenship, a spokesperson said.
"After the tip-off about a possible attack scenario for Cologne Cathedral, we did everything in our power to protect the population," explained police chief Johannes Hermanns. They were glad that people were able to celebrate New Year's Eve - "even with increased protective measures".
The number of suspects taken into custody after the terror alert increased to five. On Sunday morning, three men had already been taken into custody in connection with possible attack plans in Duisburg, Herne and in Nörvenich in the district of Düren. According to more recent information from the police, they were a 25-year-old, a 30-year-old and a 38-year-old. They were of "Tajik and Uzbek nationality".
A 30-year-old Tajik had already been arrested on Christmas Eve "to avert danger". He was taken into so-called long-term custody until January 7. The police assume that there is a larger network.
A judge is now examining how long the custodial measures against the four suspects arrested on New Year's Eve will be maintained, the Cologne police explained.
The background to the Cologne police's action is that they had received information about a planned Islamist terrorist attack on Cologne Cathedral shortly before Christmas. As a result, security measures at the cathedral were massively increased. A large police contingent was deployed on New Year's Eve. The cathedral will continue to be protected by police officers until further notice.
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 man (December 26) Police statement on cathedral services in the cathedral Press conference on December 31, 2023 Police statement on New Year's Eve
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- The terror alert in North Rhine-Westphalia escalated further with the arrest of a fifth suspect in Bochum, suspected of involvement in terrorism plans targeting Cologne Cathedral.
- Despite the heightened terrorism threat, men across Germany celebrated New Year's Eve with increased protective measures, including a large police presence at Cologne Cathedral.
- The arrest of Johannes Hermanns, the police chief of Cologne, is yet to be confirmed in relation to the terror alert and the suspected criminality related to terrorist threats against Cologne Cathedral.
- The Turkish-German suspect in custody, arrested on New Year's Eve, is one of several men of various nationalities under investigation for acts of terrorism against the famous Cologne Cathedral.5.emen, a 30-year-old Tajik man who was previously taken into long-term custody, is suspected to be a key member of the terror network surrounding the planned attack on the historic Cologne Cathedral during New Year's Eve.
- The police in Cologne are exploring whether custodial measures against the four most recent suspects arrested on New Year's Eve will be extended, as they search for any connections to terrorism and criminal activities in Germany.
- Security forces have increased their presence at tourist attractions like Cologne Cathedral in Germany, following a terror alert due to men of foreign nationalities planning attacks within and around the festivities of New Year's Eve.
Source: www.stern.de
