Police on high alert after Champions League terror attack threats

Security measures will be heightened at Champions League matches this week following threats against venues by a media outlet affiliated with the Islamic State group.

A pro-IS media channel has released several posters urging attacks at stadiums hosting quarter-final ties on Tuesday and Wednesday. UEFA also confirmed awareness of the threats but assured that matches in Madrid, Paris, and London would proceed as planned.

Ministers in France and Spain have affirmed the implementation of enhanced security measures. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin stated that “considerably reinforced” security measures would be in place during PSG’s match against Barcelona in Paris on Wednesday. He emphasized the importance of football events and ongoing discussions with security partners.

In Madrid, where two quarter-finals are scheduled, Spain’s sports minister, Pilar Alegría, conveyed a message of “calm” and announced the deployment of “more than 2,000 police and civil guard officers” to secure all events will be safe.

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Ahead of Arsenal’s match against Bayern Munich in London on Tuesday, Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan assured the public of a robust policing plan to ensure the match proceeds peacefully.

The pro-IS channel incited violent attacks and featured images of stadiums including the Emirates Stadium in London, the Bernabeu and Metropolitano Stadiums in Madrid, and the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris.

Concerns over stadium security have escalated following recent terrorist incidents, such as the Moscow concert hall attack. German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser noted that the threats have reached a “new level,” prompting increased measures to counter potential dangers.