Security raised for Champions League ties after threat
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Enhanced security measures are being implemented prior to the upcoming quarter-final in Paris on Wednesday.
To ensure safety, security measures will be heightened during Champions League matches this week due to threats made against the venues by a media organization that backs the Islamic State faction.
A media channel that supports the Islamic State has released several posters urging individuals to carry out attacks at stadiums where quarter-final matches are being held on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Uefa has acknowledged the existence of the threats, however, they have announced that the matches scheduled to take place in Madrid, Paris and London will proceed as planned.
Officials from France and Spain have announced that they will be implementing stricter security measures.
The Interior Minister of France, Gérald Darmanin, announced that there will be strengthened security measures for the PSG versus Barcelona match in Paris on Wednesday.
Mr. Darmanin reiterated that just 10 days ago, IS released a photo of the Munich stadium and urged for an attack on sports locations that hold soccer games, although any sports location could be targeted. Considering the significance of the Champions League to soccer, we are currently in discussion with our partners.
Madrid is set to hold two quarter-final matches this week. Real Madrid will have Manchester City over on Tuesday, while Atletico Madrid will be having a match against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
The Minister of Sports in Spain, Pilar Alegría, has conveyed a message of tranquility in anticipation of the events in Madrid. She has mentioned that there will be over 2,000 officers belonging to both the police and civil guard who will be present to ensure the safety and security of the event.
An official representative of the organization that oversees European football has stated that they are cognizant of reported terrorist warnings regarding the upcoming Uefa Champions League games and are in close collaboration with the officials in charge at the individual stadiums.
All games are scheduled to proceed as planned with adequate safety measures in position.
The channel that supports IS asked for forceful assaults and showcased photos of the Emirates Stadium in London, the Bernabeu Stadium and Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, and the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris.
Last week, another picture was posted displaying the Allianz Arena in Munich. This stadium will host Bayern Munich's game against Arsenal next week.
On Tuesday, Arsenal is set to face a team from Germany in a match that will take place in London. BBC News has reached out to the Metropolitan Police in London to obtain their thoughts on this event.
This week, some pro-IS media groups, who are not formally associated with the organization, shared frightening jihadist images, including one that showed a masked gunman.
It is believed that IS could be responsible for requesting the publication of the threats, as their leaders have hinted at teamwork between their official media personnel and online followers.
Experts at BBC's Monitoring service have observed an escalation in the materials promoting violence towards channels linked to a certain group. Such incidents have surged after the recent terrorist attack at a concert hall in Moscow.
