Police ’foiled ISIS terror attack plot’ hours before England played in Euro 2024 final
England lost to Spain in the Euro 2024 final and reports claim police in Berlin foiled a terror plot just hours before kick-off at the showpiece fixture in the Olympiastadion
German police foiled a suspected ISIS terror plot just hours before the Euro 2024 final between England and Spain, it has been reported.
The two sides met at Berlin’s Olympiastadion last Sunday in the final of this summer’s tournament. La Roja would ultimately win thanks to goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal, lifting their first major trophy for 12 years.
Events were held throughout the weekend in the build-up to the game, with England handed a dedicated fan zone in the German capital. Thousands of Three Lions supporters travelled to the fan zone in Berlin’s Breitscheidplatz.
ISIS had previously threatened to attack the quarter-finals of this season’s Champions League. And both organisers and the German security forces understandably took a heightened approach to policing during the tournament.
According to The Sun, they were forced to act just hours before the game kicked off, with police raiding a series of addresses in the nearby city of Potsdam. Officers swooped in after fears were raised of a potential imminent attack on the England fan zone.
Three suspects were reportedly detained by German special forces during a series of co-ordinated raids last Sunday. Police searched three addresses while searching for five men.
Concerns were raised after pictures were taken on phones of Breitscheidplatz and a large church. The five men police were searching for are said to be known ISIS supporters and had already been placed under German police surveillance.
The men were placed under investigation in the days before the final and the three suspects have since been released under investigation. German police have confirmed the operation took place and that there had been an "immediate threat".
A statement read: “The homes of three men were searched at three addresses in Potsdam. Forces from the special task forces were involved in the operation. The measures were carried out in connection with an immediate threat from the Islamist spectrum.”
The incident comes as police in France step up their own security operation ahead of the Olympic Games in Paris. The opening ceremony will take place next Friday and Games chief Tony Estanguet has insisted there will be "unprecedented" security operation in place.
He told BBC Sport: "My message is you can have confidence with this event. I would like to reassure that it’s non-negotiable. Security is the priority. It’s the biggest event that France has ever organised, and we want to showcase the best of France. So definitely we are determined to be ready.
"We are looking forward to welcoming the world in Paris. I trust in the system in place to secure this opening ceremony. It’s the first time ever the objective is to have the maximum of people enjoying this moment. It’s five times more than what happened in a stadium before…So it’s a great opportunity."
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