Three people suspected of involvement in an Islamic network have been arrested in Austria, and security at churches and Christmas markets has been stepped up due to “increased risk”, Austrian authorities said this Sunday.
According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the Austrian Interior Ministry said that four people were arrested as part of the intervention into the Islamic network on Saturday, three of whom remain imprisoned this Sunday pending further investigation.
Noting there was an “increased risk”, police also stepped up surveillance, particularly around churches, religious ceremonies and Christmas markets in Vienna, the Austrian capital.
“There is no immediate threat of attack in Vienna,” a police spokesman said.
On Saturday, Austrian police said that “terrorists in Europe are calling for attacks on Christian events, especially around December 24.”
According to the website of a German newspaper ImageOn Saturday, security services in Austria, Germany and Spain received intelligence that the Islamist group intends to carry out several terrorist attacks in Europe, possibly on New Year’s Eve and Christmas.
The attacks may have targeted Christmas masses in Cologne, Vienna and Madrid, the newspaper said, noting that one person was arrested in Germany.
Still according to ImageThe detainees are Tajiks suspected of wanting to carry out terrorist attacks on behalf of the Islamic State (IS) in Khorasan (IS-K), the local branch of IS in Afghanistan.
The searches with tracking dogs were carried out by police on Saturday evening at the cathedral in Cologne, Germany, following a “danger warning” issued on New Year’s Eve, but which authorities also took into account on Christmas Day. However, nothing suspicious was found.
In July, a cell of suspected Islamists EI-K was dismantled in Germany and the Netherlands. Those detained in Germany were suspected of planning a terrorist attack on the country’s territory.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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