Terror Threats Target European Soccer Stadiums
London — Concerns have been raised as anonymous online supporters of the Islamic terror group ISIS have issued threats against soccer stadiums across Europe. The threats come just before the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League, the most prestigious club competition in European soccer.
A post shared by the pro-ISIS online media outlet Al Azaim Foundation depicted a disturbing image of a masked gunman along with the chilling message, "Kill them all." The targeted stadiums mentioned in the post include London's Emirates Stadium, Paris's Parc des Princes, and Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu.
With tens of thousands of fans expected to attend games at these venues, the potential threat has raised significant security concerns.
No related threats have been identified through official ISIS-affiliated social media channels.
UEFA, the governing body of the Champions League, has acknowledged the alleged terrorist threats and is working closely with local authorities at the stadiums in question. In a statement provided to CBS News, UEFA assured that all matches will proceed as planned, with enhanced security measures in place.
Richard Barnes, a counterterrorism adviser who leads stadium security for London's Metropolitan Police, confirmed that the force was looking into the online threats ahead of the Champions League game between Arsenal and Bayern Munich at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening.
He told CBS News, however, that the online threats were "not a new tactic used by various terrorist groups to cause or raise alarm."
Barnes said the London police counterterrorism unit was "investigating this and they will also be engaging with internal and external partners and stakeholders to ensure this evening's fixture at Emirates Stadium is not affected."
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said security would be "considerably reinforced" around Wednesday's Champions League game between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona, in the French capital, in response to the threat, according to the AFP news agency.
The threats and heightened security measures come just weeks after the bloody attack on the Russian capital's Crocus City Hall, which saw gunmen storm the concert venue before setting it on fire.
- Moscow attack fuels concern over ISIS risk from Taliban's Afghanistan
A previously unheard-of ISIS Russia branch claimed responsibility for the attack, which left almost 200 people dead.
It also comes just days after an 18-year-old man from Idaho was arrested and accused of plotting to kill churchgoers in his town in the name of ISIS, according to court documents unsealed earlier this week.
ISIS has a track record of violent assaults on European territory, such as the coordinated attack on various sites in Paris in 2015. The national soccer stadium of France, located just north of Paris, was the sole target outside of the capital during the ISIS siege. The venue mentioned in the recent post on the pro-ISIS website is not the same location.
