3 More People Are Arrested by Police Regarding Supposed German Cologne Cathedral Attack Scheme

On Sunday, police apprehended three additional suspects linked to an alleged Islamist plot targeting Germany's renowned Cologne Cathedral on New Year's Eve, according to authorities. The purported attackers had intended to use a car for the assault on the 800-year-old Gothic structure situated by the Rhine River, revealed Cologne police director Frank Wissbaum during a press conference.

Although the exact method of the planned attack remains unclear, law enforcement conducted searches in an underground car park beneath the cathedral using explosive sniffer dogs. Wissbaum announced that the three individuals are now securely in custody, preventing further communication among them.

The investigators discovered evidence on Saturday connecting the detained trio to a 30-year-old Tajik man with alleged ties to the Islamic State militant movement, who has been in custody since December 24. Federal authorities are continuing their investigation into what Wissbaum termed a "network of individuals" from Central Asia with connections to multiple German states and European countries.

The identities and backgrounds of the individuals in custody have not been disclosed. The arrests took place in the western cities of Duisburg, Herne, and Noervenich, with communications devices seized during searches of their residences.

Security measures around the cathedral have been heightened ahead of the New Year's Eve service. Police advised the public not to be alarmed by the sight of officers carrying machine guns and body armor.

In Berlin, where last year's celebrations were marred by violent clashes, additional police presence is enforced. This is particularly in response to a banned pro-Palestinian solidarity demonstration scheduled for midnight, as tensions rise due to discontent among some Muslims in Germany regarding the support shown for Tel Aviv in its conflict against Hamas.