As of: February 22, 2024, 3:15 p.m
By: Peter Sieben
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Press
Split
The European Championships are approaching, NRW will play a crucial role in security.
The police are keeping an eye on one IS offshoot in particular during their preparations.
Düsseldorf – When football is played on a very large scale, it’s not just about sport.
The 2024 European Championship is almost here, starting in June.
Hundreds of thousands of people will be guests in Germany, and security will then be a central issue.
North Rhine-Westphalia will play a crucial role in this: 20 of the 51 games during the European Football Championship will take place there in four stadiums and the NRW police will take on a leading role nationwide during the European Championship.
It will also have a very specific danger in mind, said NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul on Thursday in the state parliament's Interior Committee.
EM 2024: “It won’t be a walk in the park for the security experts”
“It won’t be a walk in the park for the security authorities.
Especially given the tense situation.
The war in Ukraine and Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel played a role in this,” said Reul.
The focus is primarily on the terrorist group Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISPK).
The Afghan IS offshoot is considered the most active arm of the Islamic State in Europe and is said to have recently planned an attack on Cologne Cathedral on New Year's Eve.
“The ISPK tries to recruit individual perpetrators and groups in order to use them against soft targets.” A sporting event like the European Championships belongs to such a category, said Reul.
NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul: “The risk situation is still high”
“The risk situation is still high.
After the events in Cologne, we are even more vigilant,” said Reul.
There is “no zero risk”, but: “We are prepared.” FDP MP Marc Lürbke wanted to know whether an increased preventive use of ankle bracelets was also conceivable.
“All means that are necessary and legally possible will be used.
Nothing more and nothing less,” said Reul.
The headquarters of the International Police Cooperation Center (IPCC) will also be in North Rhine-Westphalia.
This is where the national and, if necessary, international coordination and communication of the security authorities takes place.
Liaison officers from abroad will also be on duty there.
“That’s where all the threads will come together,” says Reul.
Senior police director Dirk Hulverscheidt spoke of a “special challenge” for the police.
“20 games are taking place in North Rhine-Westphalia, we have to deal with more operational situations,” said Hulverscheidt.
18 games will take place in the first two weeks, and police support from other federal states and the federal government will also be planned.