Austria and Germany step up security measures during Christmas holidays

(Patria) - Austrian officials announced today that four people have been arrested, while police controls have been intensified in the capital Vienna and the German city of Cologne due to increased security risks during Christmas.

Austrian police have increased checks, especially around churches, other religious sites, and Christmas markets in Vienna, citing "increased security risk" as the reason.

Authorities there arrested four people linked to an "Islamist network" on Christmas Eve, and three have been detained pending investigation, police said.

"There was no immediate threat of an attack in Vienna," a police spokesperson told AFP, refusing to comment further.

"Terrorist actors across Europe are calling for attacks during Christian holidays - especially around December 24th," the Vienna police statement said.

Cologne police announced they are taking precautionary measures during Christmas, following a "danger warning" on New Year's Eve.

"Even if it's New Year's Eve, there are many people around the cathedral, there is midnight mass on Christmas Eve today, it is one of the most visited cathedrals, and the main train station is nearby," said police spokesperson Wolfgang Baldes in front of the Cologne Cathedral.

Tourist visits to the Cologne Cathedral were exclusively prohibited, believers were allowed to attend services, and police conducted security checks and searched the cathedral with sniffer dogs on Christmas Eve.

"There are many people here, and that's why we said that if there are any indications, we will do everything necessary to protect people," Baldes added.
Cathedral administrator Guido Assmann said that tourist tours were stopped, but that this does not represent a major change, as such visits are usually prohibited during holiday services.

The Cologne Cathedral, whose two towers are 157 meters high, is a major tourist destination and is visited by about six million people annually.

Police and cathedral officials urged those attending midnight mass to arrive early and not to bring bags or sacks.

The Minister of the Interior of the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia called on citizens not to give up coming, but to be cautious.

"Caution is advised, but we are not defenseless. Our agencies are using all available information to protect us as best as possible," he said.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser promised a firm response to any threat from extremists, RSE reported.

"We all love our Christmas traditions and we will not allow ourselves to be intimidated," Faeser told the regional media group Funke.

She added that the danger of terrorism is taken very seriously and that security agencies are on alert.

EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs Ylva Johansson warned on December 5 that Europe faces a high risk of terrorist attacks during the Christmas holidays due to the consequences of the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.