LONDON ON HIGH ALERT FOR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GAMES AMID ISIS THREATS
LONDON — Security will be ramped up at Champions League matches this week following threats from a media outlet affiliated with the Islamic State group.
A pro-IS media channel has released multiple posters urging attacks at stadiums hosting quarterfinal ties on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Despite the threats, UEFA has confirmed that the games in Madrid, Paris, and London will proceed as scheduled.
Both France and Spain have announced increased security measures in response to the threats.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin assured that “considerably reinforced” security measures will be in place for the PSG vs. Barcelona match in Paris on Wednesday.
Spain’s sports minister, Pilar Alegría, emphasized the need for calm and mentioned the deployment of over 2,000 police and civil guard officers for the games in Madrid.
Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan reassured the public of a robust policing plan for the Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich match in London on Tuesday.
The pro-IS channel has called for violent attacks and featured images of key stadiums, including the Emirates Stadium in London, the Bernabeu and Metropolitano Stadiums in Madrid, and the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris.
While the threatening images did not specify any particular match or event, experts believe that the directive to publish the threats may have come from IS leadership.
Material aiming to incite violence against targets affiliated with the group has been on the rise following recent attacks, according to specialists at the BBC’s Monitoring service.
UEFA has assured that all matches will proceed as planned with appropriate security measures in place, despite the alleged terrorist threats.
