Several posters appeared in online publications close to Islamic State calling for attacks on stadiums where Champions League quarter-final matches will be held.
ISIS threatens Champions League football matches. Security will be beefed up at matches in Madrid, Paris and London. On Tuesday, April 9, the Spanish Real Madrid and the English Manchester City play in Madrid, and the English Arsenal hosts Bayern Munich in London. On April 10, in Madrid, the Spanish Atlético will meet at home with the German Borussia, and the French Paris Saint-Germain will play with the Spanish Barcelona in Paris.
Hints from ISIS
Security measures had to be stepped up after several posters appeared in online publications close to Islamic State calling for attacks on stadiums where matches are held.
The pro-ISIS channel called for attacks and published images of the Emirates Stadium in London, the Santiago Bernabeu and Metropolitano stadiums in Madrid, and the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris.
Another photo published last week shows the Allianz Arena in Munich, where Bayern will play the second leg against Arsenal next week.
Reaction of the authorities
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said security measures had been “significantly enhanced” for PSG’s match with Barcelona in Paris on Wednesday.
“Let me remind you that just 10 days ago ISIS published a photo of the Munich stadium and said that it is necessary to act against sports facilities where football matches are held. Although any sport can be the target, said Darmanen. “Given how important the Champions League is for football, of course we are in negotiations with our partners.”
Spain’s Sports Minister Pilar Alegría called for calm ahead of the matches in Madrid and said more than 2,000 police and Civil Guard personnel would be deployed to ensure security.
“UEFA is aware of suspected terrorist threats in relation to this week’s Champions League matches and is liaising closely with the authorities at the relevant stadiums,” said a spokesman for the Union of European Football Associations. “We plan to play all matches as scheduled with appropriate safety measures in place.”
More calls for violence
Photos of the jihadists, some of them showing masked men with weapons, were published in online media not officially affiliated with the Islamic State itself. However, there are suggestions that this group is behind their publication.
The IGBK leadership recently indicated that its officials are closely connected with supporters on the Internet.
After the attack on the concert hall near Moscow, channels with long-standing ties to the group began to publish materials inciting attacks more often.
Source: korrespondent
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