Authorities in Germany and Austria reported over the weekend that they received credible threats of Islamist violence over the holiday period, and are taking precautionary measures. According to RT, German police searched the Cologne Cathedral with bomb-sniffing dogs, and Austrian authorities strengthened security deployments around churches and Christmas markets. Madrid has taken similar measures. According to Bild newspaper, arrests of terrorism suspects have occurred in Austria and Germany.
“Given that terrorist actors throughout Europe are calling for attacks on Christian events, especially around December 24, the security authorities have taken the corresponding protection measures in public spaces,” Austrian police said in a statement on Dec. 23.
