Security raised for Champions League ties after threat
 

Security will be increased at Champions League games this week after a media outlet supporting the Islamic State group published threats against venues.

Uefa said it was aware of the threats but said games in Madrid, Paris and London would go ahead as planned.

A pro-IS media channel has published multiple posters calling for attacks at stadiums hosting quarter-final ties on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Ministers in both France and Spain have confirmed enhanced security measures.

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said there would be "considerably reinforced" security measures in place when PSG play Barcelona in Paris on Wednesday.

Mr Darmanin continued: "I will remind you that only 10 days ago, IS shared a picture of the Munich stadium and said action should be taken against sports venues that host football games - although all sports can be targeted.

"Given how important the Champions League is for football, we are of course talking to our partners."

Two games are due to be held in Madrid this week. Real Madrid will play Manchester City on Tuesday, while Atletico Madrid will take on Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.

Pilar Alegría, Spain's sports minister, has issued a message of "calm" ahead of the games in Madrid and said "more than 2,000 police and civil guard officers" will be deployed.

A spokesman for European football's governing body said: "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.

"All matches are planned to go ahead as scheduled with appropriate security arrangements in place."

The pro-IS channel called for violent attacks and featured images of the Emirates Stadium in London, the Bernabeu Stadium and the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, as well as the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris.

Another image shared last week depicted the Allianz Arena Stadium in Munich, which is due to host Bayern Munich against Arsenal next week.

Arsenal are also due to play in London tonight.

BBC News has contacted the Metropolitan Police in London for comment.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68769669

Never really known the Islamic state to pubish their targets, I would be looking elsewhere

yes, this is plain stupid


but obviously they need to raise security measures even if just out of precautionary measures of course


but publishing your targets is not very smart

well, it's one way .... they hear chatter and they act on it. Put it this way, if they ignored it, there would be uproar if something happened

I would say the PSG vs Barcelona game was the most at risk