A man has been arrested in Germany in connection with a possible attack on the Cologne Cathedral, Reuters reports.
The person is a 30-year-old Tajik, about whom there is information related to a risk to state security, Cologne police said in a statement, without giving further details.
The court will allow the man to be detained until January 7.
On Saturday, police said they were beefing up security at the building following indications of a planned attack on New Year’s Eve and following government warnings in recent weeks about the growing threat of Islamist violence.
Bild reported that officials in Germany, Austria and Spain had received reports that Islamists had prepared several attacks in Europe over the holidays.
Christmas Masses in Cologne, Vienna and Madrid have been mentioned as possible targets. The German daily reported several arrests in the Austrian capital and one in Germany.
Authorities in Cologne advised visitors to avoid carrying bags or arriving too early for mass at the church.
Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has warned in recent weeks about the growing threat of Islamist violence in Germany and elsewhere in Europe. The war between Israel and Hamas increases the risk of radicalization.
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