Terror warning in Cologne – Three extra suspects in custody | EUROtoday

Police in North Rhine-Westphalia have taken three extra suspects into custody in reference to potential plans to assault Cologne Cathedral. They are stated to belong to the community of a person who was arrested on Christmas Eve.

After new info from the authorities about potential Islamist plans to assault Cologne Cathedral, the police in North Rhine-Westphalia have taken three extra folks into custody. Police representatives introduced this at a short-term press convention late on Sunday afternoon in Cologne. The info from the Federal Criminal Police Office and the Federal Intelligence Service reached the police in Cologne late on Saturday night, who then initiated additional investigations, safety measures and additional steps.

According to Cologne police chief Johannes Hermanns, the three folks now taken into custody had been in reference to a 30-year-old Tajik who was arrested in Wesel on Christmas Eve and has been in everlasting custody ever since.

The assaults befell in Duisburg, Herne and in Nörvenich within the Düren district, the place residences had been additionally searched and communications tools confiscated. The community, directed by folks from Central Asia, is meant to increase to a number of federal states and different European nations.

Means of crime: automobile

The assault was apparently carried out utilizing a automobile. “We don’t know how the car should be used,” defined operations supervisor Frank Wißbaum.

The underground automobile park underneath the cathedral was searched throughout the night time in gentle of the brand new info. Explosive detection canine had been additionally used. But nothing was discovered that might point out an assault. Entrance and exit to the underground automobile park have been checked since early morning.

The police can’t at the moment say how particular the assault plan was and what precisely was deliberate. “As soon as we have information, we take it seriously and follow up on every lead,” emphasised Wißbaum.

NRW Interior Minister thanks investigators

North Rhine-Westphalia’s Interior Minister Herbert Reul thanked the investigators. Islamist extremists have all the time been energetic, however are at the moment extra energetic than typical. “The police always try to be a few steps ahead.” There isn’t absolute safety. However, Reul emphasised that Cologne residents may go to church providers or have fun. The end-of-year service with Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki is deliberate for six:30 p.m. within the cathedral.

The Cologne police had already considerably elevated safety measures round Cologne Cathedral prematurely. Among different issues, officers with submachine weapons patrol across the church. That night, round 1,000 officers had been on responsibility within the space across the cathedral and town middle alone, in line with the police.