Police in Cologne, Vienna up security around churches amid reports of Islamist threat

Cologne police have searched Germany’s landmark cathedral with sniffer dogs Saturday and say worshippers attending Christmas Eve Mass will undergo security screening before being allowed in, amid reported fears of an Islamist attack.

In Austria, police in Vienna also say they are taking heightened security measures around churches and Christmas markets, deploying both uniformed and plainclothes officers.

The German daily Bild reports that officials in Austria, Germany and Spain all received indications that an Islamist group was planning several attacks in Europe, possibly on New Year’s Eve and Christmas.

According to the newspaper, the targets of these attacks could be Christmas masses in Cologne, Vienna and Madrid.

Sniffer dogs are looking for explosives in Cologne Cathedral, Germany ????????.

After a specific terror warning, a major operation is underway at Cologne Cathedral this evening!

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— Luís Da Cruz (@morphiaz) December 23, 2023

Michael Esser, head of the criminal investigation department of the Cologne police, says in a news release that the threat indications pointed to New Year’s Eve rather than Christmas, but added that “we are putting everything possible in motion for the security of cathedral visitors on Christmas Eve.”

Police and cathedral officials urge those attending Mass on Sunday evening to arrive early and not bring bags or purses.

The European Union’s home affairs commissioner, Ylva Johansson, warned on December 5 that Europe faces a “huge risk of terrorist attacks” over the Christmas holidays due to fallout from the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.