GERMANY has been bracing itself for a potential terror attack at Euro 2024 amid a mammoth security op due to possible threats on “all fronts”.
Thomas Haldenwang, head of Germany’s intelligence agency has warned there is a “high chance” of a terror attack at the tournament with a number of major security concerns already taking place.
If any attacks are being planned Mr Haldenwang says the main threats could come from Islamic extremists or those with strong links to the raging war in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas.
The president of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution pinpointed ISIS splinter cell ISIS-K as the main “focus of attention” for any potential concerns.
Since the October 7 massacre in Gaza, terror levels have soared across Europe with security groups being on high alert at almost every major event.
With the Euros welcoming hundreds of thousands of fans each day to Germany, Haldenwang and his team put special measures in place to combat any threats.
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Police around the country were told they couldn’t take leave during the summer of football with the federal cops deploying over 22,000 extra officers.
The monumental move is the biggest mobilisation in the organisation’s history.
A total of 580 international officers have also been drafted in to make up specialist security units.
All of those officers are expected to be on hand for each day of the month-long event monitoring transport, fan zones and tourist hotspots.
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Cops from across the continent have also been urged to help out Germany by staying alert for any potential suspects at borders and train stations before they enter.
UEFA, European football’s governing body, expects over 2.7 million fans to rock up to Germany across ten cities.
Before the tournament got underway, security expert Will Geddes told The Sun about Germany’s plan to use a robust ring of steel made up of thousands of armed cops to shield against potential attacks.
The UEFA Euro 2024 championship presents a “wide spectrum of potential risks and issues” amid a “very high level of risk” from ISIS, he warned.
Will explained that the country’s special forces, intelligence services and armed police will be called up to help prepare for and defend against any possible attacks.
Crowds will be monitored closely under widespread CCTV, AI, the watchful eye of “super spotters” and plain-clothed officers, he said.
Euro 2024 security worries
PITCH INVASION
On Monday 17, a fan managed to run on the pitch before being dragged off by security in Romania’s 3-0 thumping of Ukraine.
The supporter, who was wearing a yellow t-shirt, appeared from the stand behind the goal before a Ukraine corner.
He managed to get to Romanian star Nicolae Stanciu, but was swiftly whisked away by stewards.
CLASH IN THE STANDS
Turkey’s Euro 2024 clash with Georgia descended into chaos before kick-off after fights broke out in the stands as water poured from the roof.
Footage from the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund showed rain from a storm drenching seats by the pitch.
Around the same time, crowd violence began to erupt inside the ground between the two sets of fans.
Objects were reportedly thrown between two sections as fighting ensued.
The scene was described as “absolute bedlam” by journalist Daniel Storey with fears the game could be suspended.
A small section of supporters from both sides could be seen throwing punches and pushing.
CRAZED AXEMAN
Last week, shocking footage showed a man with a golden pickaxe walking towards cops with a Molotov cocktail.
Police were forced to draw their guns and deploy pepper spray moments before the suspect was arrested on the streets of Hamburg.
The Reeperbahn strip, not far from where thousands of Dutch supporters were gathering to watch their match against Poland, was quickly closed off to the public.
ARRESTING TERROR SUSPECTS
Pre-tournament German cops announced that they had arrested a suspected ISIS terrorist while he was trying to sneak his way into the Euros.
Anti-terror investigators caught Soufian T, 23, who is said to have applied to get a pass as a security guard for “side events” outside the football stadium.
Cops from the Cologne police department, along with investigators from the Bonn State Security Service and federal police, arrested the German-Moroccan-Polish citizen with his mother and sister at Cologne-Bonn Airport.
TRANSPORT CHAOS
Organisers of the Euros have already been heavily criticised during the early stages of the tournament amid transport chaos.
Following England’s win over Serbia on Sunday, some Three Lions fans were stranded in Gelsenkirchen for up to THREE HOURS.
Bogestra, responsible for transport in Gelsenkirchen, claimed that “it is normal to wait” when 50,000 people are trying to get home.
They added that their concept “worked overall”, and that their target was to get everybody transported within two hours of the final whistle.
Bogestra also claimed that social media “overrated” the issues, and that it is “impossible” to have all fans moved within an hour.
They alleged that fans used emergency brakes before the game, which led to some of the delays.
Working with analysts who have experience in military, intelligence and law enforcement, Will’s team have seen ISIS make “very specific references to Germany”.
The prolific death cult has hurled out repeated threats against events like the Euros, Champions League and Paris Olympics in recent months.
Germany’s interior minister Nancy Faeser told 350 foreign cops dispatched to help ahead of the event that the focus of security will be “above all on the threat of Islamist terrorism”.
It has also been revealed that fans who feel “unsafe” or “threatened” during the tournament have been urged to say “Panama” to police or staff to get help.
Competition organisers in Gelsenkirchen – where England faced Serbia on Sunday – sent out the message to fans.
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Upon hearing the word Panama staff are meant to “immediately offer the possibility of a place to retreat”.
There is also a specialist Panama team at games who are “a multilingual, multi-professional team trained in crisis intervention, non-violent communication and de-escalation”.
‘Acute’ terrorist threat across Europe
By Jessica Baker, Foreign News Reporter
THE threat of terrorism to the security of Europe is “acute”, the EU’s law enforcement agency has warned.
Europol said the top concern of EU countries is “jihadist terrorism” and foreign terrorist fighters who travel from conflict zones.
Some fear the terror group ISIS could be looking to leverage conflict in the Middle East to launch a fresh of attacks across Europe.
Ten jihadist attacks have been foiled by cops in Europe in the past 12 months alone, according to Dutch intelligence agency AIVD.
The agency claimed attacks planned and intercepted included stabbing rampages at major events and assaults on specific groups and venues.
Israel’s spy agency meanwhile alleged Iranian terror cells are plotting attacks across the continent ahead of the Paris Olympics.
The Olympics chief has promised a ring of steel at the Games’ opening ceremony and insisted “security is the priority” to ensure the safety of an expected 15 million fans and more than 10,000 athletes.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
