Terrorism: Raid before European Championship final – Islamist attack planned?

Due to concerns about an Islamist terrorist attack, the police took action against three men immediately before the final of the European Football Championship. Their apartments in Potsdam were searched by special task forces from Brandenburg and Berlin, a police spokeswoman said when asked.

The suspects were checked and detained on the basis of police security law. In Berlin, precautionary security measures were taken in view of the final in the Olympic Stadium that evening. However, “no indications of concrete plans for an attack” were known,” said the spokeswoman. “The operation for the European Championship final in Berlin took place without any special incidents or events related to the danger warning,” she said.

Report: Suspects under surveillance

According to her, the police had received a tip-off about a possible impending attack. The spokeswoman did not say whether this came from the Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Germany or from abroad. Further information about the background to the operation could not be given for “investigative tactical reasons,” she said.

According to the “Bild” newspaper, the men were already being monitored by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution because they are known IS supporters. According to information from the newspaper, they took photos of the Memorial Church and the surrounding area on July 13 at Breitscheidplatz with their cell phones – apparently to spy on the area and the security measures.

Thousands of fans at the European Championship final in Berlin

Football fans traditionally meet on the square to celebrate before a game. Before the European Championship final between the English and Spanish national teams, thousands of English people got in the mood for the evening. Thousands more Spanish fans celebrated near the Olympic Stadium. In addition, thousands of people watched the European Championship final in the fan zones at the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag building.

Around eight years ago, a total of 13 people died in an Islamist terrorist attack at the Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz – one of them died years later as a result. More than 70 people were injured, some seriously. On December 19, 2016, an Islamist terrorist hijacked a truck and then drove into the Christmas market on Kurfürstendamm. The attacker fled to Italy, where police shot him dead.