police arrest three men suspected of belonging to an Islamist network, security reinforced in Vienna

“Intervening on an Islamist network”, Austrian authorities arrested four people on Saturday, three remaining detained pending further investigations.

Three people suspected of being involved in an Islamist network were arrested in Austria, authorities announced on Sunday December 24. “Speaking on an Islamist network”, the latter first arrested four people on Saturday, said the Austrian Interior Ministry. A ministry spokesperson later said three remained detained pending further investigations.

The police have also stepped up controls, particularly around churches, religious ceremonies and Christmas markets in Vienna, even if “there is no immediate threat of attack in Vienna”, underlines the police spokesperson. On Saturday, the Austrian police explained in a press release that “Terrorist agents in Europe are calling for attacks on Christian events, especially around December 24”.

Germany also on alert

In Germany, the authorities, for their part, emphasized having reinforced security measures, particularly around Cologne Cathedral, due to a security risk linked to a threat described as“Islamist”. Worshipers attending Christmas religious services must undergo strict entry controls.

“We take the Islamist terrorist threat very seriously and are extremely vigilant,” German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told regional press group Funke on Sunday.According to the German daily website Bild On Saturday, security services in Austria, Germany and Spain received indications that an Islamist group wanted to carry out several attacks in Europe, possibly on New Year’s Eve and Christmas. The newspaper specifies that the targets of these attacks could be Christmas masses in Cologne, Vienna and Madrid.