Police officers managed to foil an ‘ISIS terror plot’ ahead of England’s Euro 2024 final in Berlin, carrying out a series of raids that saw three suspects arrested.
German special forces successfully thwarted the attack, which was feared to have taken place in the Three Lions fan zone at Breitscheidplatz ahead of England’s 2-1 defeat to Spain on Sunday.
Police carried out a series of coordinated raids in nearby Potsdam, searching for five men known to be IS supporters.
The men, who were already under surveillance by German police, were photographed with telephones on Breitscheidplatz and in a nearby large church.
A Berlin police spokesman said The sun on sunday: ‘The homes of three men were searched at three addresses in Potsdam.
German special forces successfully thwarted the attack after concerns were raised that it would take place in the Three Lions fan zone at Breitscheidplatz ahead of England’s 2-1 defeat to Spain on Sunday.
Police carried out a series of coordinated raids in nearby Potsdam in search of five men believed to be IS supporters
‘Special task force troops were involved in the operation.
‘The measures were taken in connection with a direct threat from the Islamist spectrum.’
It is believed that the suspects were being watched in the run-up to the finals. They have since been released after questioning.
In 2016, 12 people were killed and 56 seriously injured when jihadists drove a truck into a Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz.
The latest revelation comes as Olympic officials tightened security ahead of the Summer Olympics in Paris, which begin on Friday.
British police officers are among the 45,000 officers patrolling the streets of the French capital during the two-week event.
Last month, ISIS terrorists threatened to attack the city during the games, posting a propaganda photo of one of their terrorists flying an armed drone at the Eiffel Tower.
In response, central areas around the Seine, including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, have already been closed to vehicles.
About 130 people have already been banned from entering the country because they are on France’s terrorist list.