France on high alert for New Year's Eve 'terrorist threat' as ISIS plots foiled

29 December 2023 , 11:34

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Police are across Europe are on high alert for a terror attack on New Year's Eve (Image: AP)

Security services in France have been put on 'high alert' days after a number of ISIS plots to target Europe were thwarted.

Counter-terrorism experts say the group remains a “serious threat” and claim they are taking advantage of the ongoing conflict in Gaza to rally support for their cause. Police have made a number of arrests in France, Spain, Austria and Germany during the Christmas period. Five people were last week apprehended in northern France as part of an investigation into a criminal terrorist conspiracy.

French minister Gérald Darmanin said the security system is in place for New Year's Eve across the country and he said they will leave nothing to chance on Sunday. He told reporters this morning: “I requested an extremely strong mobilisation of the police and gendarmerie services in a context of very high terrorist threat."

French minister Gérald Darmanin says the country is now on 'high alert' (CNews/Twitter)

It comes as Counter Extremism Project chief executive Ambassador Mark Wallace said: "These arrests demonstrate once again that ISIS remains a serious threat to the West. ISIS is not only trying to take advantage of Hamas’s war against Israel to motivate its supporters and sympathisers but is also attempting to organise terror attacks in Europe to demonstrate its continued relevance within the terrorist milieu.

He added: “Authorities must continue to increase their cooperation to ensure the futility of these efforts.” His comments come after three people were detained in Austria for suspected involvement in an “Islamist network” in the build-up to December 25 but the interior minister said there was “no immediate threat” of an attack in Vienna.

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One person was arrested in Germany and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said: “We all love our Christmas traditions and won't allow ourselves to be intimidated or have our way of life hemmed in. Our security authorities have their sights on the Islamist scene and are acting decisively as the current measures show.”

It isn't just Europe on high alert. Times Square is an 'attractive target' on New Year's Eve, according to a threat assessment obtained by ABC News The document says the venue's significant attendance and media coverage makes it an "attractive target for foreign terrorist organisations, homegrown violent extremists, domestic violent extremists, lone offenders, and targeted violence" but adds there is "no specific reporting regarding any threats."

Sam Elliott-Gibbs