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Rabat – In response to threats from the Islamic State group (ISIS), France and Spain are bolstering security measures ahead of the highly anticipated Champions League quarter-finals scheduled to take place in Madrid and Paris.
Top government officials from both countries have issued statements acknowledging the threats posed by ISIS to the upcoming soccer events.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, speaking at a press event on Olympic Games security, emphasized the heightened security measures being implemented in the Paris region, particularly at the Parc des Princes stadium where Paris Saint-Germain is set to face Barcelona.
“We have seen, among other things, a communication from the Islamic State that particularly targets stadiums. It is not new,” Darmanin stated.
In Spain, government spokesperson Pilar Alegria announced the deployment of an additional 2,000 police officers in the capital, Madrid, to enhance security for the matches hosted by Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. The heightened measures come as the terrorism alert level has been raised to 4 out of 5.
British authorities have also acknowledged the reports of threats, with Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan of the London Police reassuring the public of a robust policing plan in place for the match between Arsenal and Bayern Munich.
“We’re aware of online and media reports in relation to calls to target matches across Europe and here in London,” Adelekan stated.
UEFA, the governing body for European football, has also affirmed its awareness of the alleged terrorist threats and assured fans that all matches will proceed as scheduled with appropriate security arrangements in place.
ISIS has recently claimed responsibility for the tragic attack on a Moscow concert hall which resulted in 143 deaths.
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