Russia warns Germany about possible terror attack

Russia’s KGB had warned German authorities about a possible terror attack by a single individual.

Russia’s KGB had warned German authorities about a possible terror attack by a single individual.

Radical Islamist terror groups could use new, computer-based technology or even drones, the office, known in Germany as the Bundeskriminalamt (Germany Federal Police) or BKA, said.

โ€œFor western countries airlines and airports there is a credible threat that can manifest itself at any time in an attack,โ€ the BKA said in a confidential reported entitled โ€œThe situation in aviation security 2012โ€ that the paper obtained.

In a closed meeting on Friday evening, head of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) Jรถrg Ziercke informed federal and regional Interior Ministries of “serious indication” that Islamists were planning a bomb attack on Germany, wrote Der Spiegel news magazine on Saturday.

The 17th of June Street in the center of Germany’s capital Berlin has been closed off for days. Right in front of the famed Brandenburg Gate, a stage has been set up and several gigantic screens as well. On Saturday evening, the Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, who will battle for the title in Wembley Stadium in London, is to be broadcast to tens of thousands in the heart of the German capital. White tents are ready to serve beer and sausage and loud music will keep the crowds moving until the game starts. Such huge parties have become something of a tradition in Berlin for large sporting events. And thus far, they have always been peaceful.

Possible targets included public viewings in German cities of Saturday night’s highly-anticipated soccer game between German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in London’s Wembley stadium, said the magazine.

Hundreds of thousands of football fans are expected, to gather at the fan mile at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate to watch live screenings of the game, which only a tiny proportion of fans will be able to attend in person.

In light of suspected attack plans by Islamist terrorists, wrote the magazine, fans will have to contend with a larger police presence than otherwise. Bags will be checked to prevent explosives making their way into the crowd, said Der Spiegel.

“There are specific references to people, but not at the place and time,” politician Wolfgang Bosbach told news channel N-TV.

Munich’s Allianz Arena and Theresienwiese, where the city’s beer festival is traditionally held, are set to be full with 45,000 and 30,000 fans respectively.

Tickets for the Allianz Arena, which were originally given out by Bayern for free, are now fetching up to โ‚ฌ90 on the black market.

All 20,000 places at Dortmund’s Westfalenhallen sold out in 24 hours, while the city centre fan zone has a capacity for 40,000.

There is particular concern in the German capital, which can host 500,000 spectators, with the Berlin fan mile just a few hundred yards from the Reichstag building, which houses the country’s parliament.

“We are prepared accordingly and know the security situation in Berlin,” police spokesman Michael Mars told Bild tabloid on Saturday.

How concrete a warning has been issued remains unclear, said Der Spiegel but added that Ziercke had spoken of a โ€œserious indication.โ€

Meanwhile, German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich tried to calm the situation as reports circulated on Saturday.

“Germany has long been a target for international terrorism. At this point there are no indications of planned attacks or targets in Germany,” he said.

Multiple similar warnings ave been given in the past, the majority of which later turned out to be unfounded

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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