German police warn of possible attack at Cologne Cathedral
German authorities said that have received an alert that a group may
be planning an attack on the Cologne Cathedral, the DPA news agency
reported Saturday.
Authorities have not elaborated on the alert they received, saying
police in the German city will take special protective measures.
Sniffer dogs were brought in to search the premises after the evening
mass service, and visitors will be screened before entering the church,
Michael Esser, the chief of police, said in a statement.
Esser said that even if the alert were for New Year's Eve,
authorities would "take everything into account this evening to ensure
the safety of cathedral visitors on Christmas Eve."
Police said late in the morning that no arrests had been made in
connection with the possible attack, according to the German Press
Agency (dpa).
The German daily Bild reported that officials in Germany,
Austria and Spain had received indications that an Islamist group was
planning several attacks in Europe.
Authorities in Cologne have recommended visitors avoid carrying bags or arriving too early for mass at the church.
The Gothic cathedral with its twin towers is one of the most visited landmarks in Germany
