France and Spain will enhance security for the Champions League quarter-finals in Madrid and Paris on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, according to top officials. This is in response to Islamic State threats of drone attacks on Europe’s top club soccer tournament.
British police stated they are aware of the threats and have a strong policing plan in place for Arsenal’s match against Bayern Munich in London on Tuesday night.
The threats against some of the world’s most-watched soccer matches highlight the resurgence of Islamic State after several deadly attacks this year, including in Iran and Moscow.
They also highlight the complex geopolitical background to the world’s biggest single sporting event, the Olympic Games, set to take place in Paris in July and August.
At a press event to discuss Olympic security on Tuesday, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told reporters that police had “considerably strengthened security” for Wednesday’s fixture between Paris St Germain (PSG) and Barcelona in Paris.
“We have seen, among other things, a communication from the Islamic State that particularly targets stadiums. It is not new,” he said.
Islamic State published a post urging followers to recreate a November 2015 attack on the Stade de France stadium featuring an image of PSG’s Parc des Princes stadium, according to Site Intelligence group, which tracks Islamic militant communications.
Another post seen by Site Intelligence urged militants to use drones to attack the stadiums if they could not physically reach the location.
“If they constrict and oppress on the ground, then strike them from the sky,” said the post, which featured a quadcopter flying over Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Real play Manchester City in the Spanish capital on Tuesday night as Arsenal take on Bayern in London. Atletico Madrid then host Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night at the same time as PSG play Barcelona.
“Of course, it’s worrying … Who in this room isn’t worried?” PSG coach Luis Enrique told reporters. “It’s something I hope can be controlled, and that they’re just threats and that nothing disastrous happens.”
The matches will go ahead as planned despite the threats, the governing body of European soccer said Tuesday.
“UEFA is aware of alleged terrorist threats made towards this week’s UEFA Champions League matches and is closely liaising with the authorities at the respective venues,” UEFA said in a statement. “All matches are planned to go ahead as scheduled with appropriate security arrangements in place.”
Europe on edge
London police’s Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan stated that: “We’re aware of online and media reports in relation to calls to target matches across Europe and here in London.”
“However, I want to reassure the public that we have a strong policing plan in place for tonight’s match and we continue to work closely alongside the club’s security team to ensure that the match passes peacefully.”
Spanish police forces will deploy more than 2,000 officers to boost security in the capital for the two games there, government spokesperson Pilar Alegria informed reporters on Tuesday.
After being mostly defeated by a U.S.-led group, Islamic State has been secretly operating in recent years, slowly reconstructing its abilities through hidden dormant groups.
Its Afghan division, called ISIS-K, has been very active recently. The organization admitted to carrying out a deadly attack at a concert near Moscow last month, and also executed two bombings in Iran that resulted in the deaths of nearly 100 individuals earlier this year, according to communications intercepted by the U.S.
