- Unnamed ‘friendly’ intelligence service sent warnings to European capitals
- Claimed attacks would happen before New Year but did not name any cities
- Several European capitals have tightened security measures since warning
- Austrian capital Vienna stepped up ID checks and CCTV in crowded places
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Capital cities across Europe could be the target of a terror attack before the New Year, Austrian police has warned after receiving a tip off from a ‘friendly’ intelligence service.
Security measures have since been stepped up around the continent, although no cities were named as targets.
Tensions have remained high in Europe since 130 were killed in the Paris attacks . And with refugees and migrants flooding into Europe in record numbers, some fear that extremists could be sneaking in undetected among them.
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Capital cities across Europe could be the target of a terror attack before the New Year, Austrian police has warned (pictured, armed police near Austria’s capital, Vienna, in 2013)
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France has remained on high alert since last month’s terror attacks in which 130 were killed (pictured, armed police at the Eiffel Tower in Paris)
In a statement, Austrian police said a friendly intelligence service sent a warning to ‘numerous European capitals’ saying and attack was expected between Christmas and New Year in ‘crowded spaces’.
‘Several possible names of potential attackers were mentioned.. . and the investigation based on these checks has so far yielded no concrete results,’ Vienna police added in the statement.
Christoph P lzl, a spokesman for Vienna police, said: ‘We do not know if these people exist in real life, or if they are only names with no real person behind them.
‘We have no evidence that they are in Vienna, and we have no evidence that they are even in Europe.’
He refused to say which other European capitals had received the warning, the Guardian reported.
The police said Vienna does not intend to cancel any events because of the threat but asked Austrians for their patience and understanding at a time of increased security controls.
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An armed policeman and two soldiers guard the shops on Rue Du Marche Aux Herbes in Brussels, Belgium, after 16 suspected terrorists were arrested during raids last month
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The Met Police says the threat to the UK (pictured, police in Westminster, London) is ‘real and serious’ and warns that ‘a terrorist attack is highly likely’
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The extra security measures in Vienna (pictured) included surveillance in crowded spaces – ‘especially at events and traffic hubs’ – as well as intensive checks on ID cards
The extra measures include added surveillance in crowded spaces – ‘especially at events and traffic hubs’ – as well as intensive checks on ID cards and objects that can carry explosives, such as bags or ‘bicycle frames’.
France has remained on high alert since last month’s terror attacks .
Police were instructed to stay vigilant at church services last week.
The Met Police says the threat from terrorism to the UK is ‘real and serious’ and warns that ‘terrorists can strike at any time and any place without warning’.
It adds on its website: ‘Currently the threat level to the United Kingdom from international terrorism is at Severe – this means that a terrorist attack is highly likely.’
Italy raised its security level last month after warnings of possible terrorist attacks at a number of historical monuments and buildings Milan and the capital, Rome.
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Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Milan’s cathedral and La Scala opera house, as well as ‘general venues’ like churches, synagogues, restaurants, theaters and hotels were identified as ‘potential targets’ by the FBI.
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Italy raised its security level last month after warnings of possible terrorist attacks at a number of historical monuments and buildings Milan and the capital, Rome (pictured, a policeman patrols outside the Colosseum)
Belgium deployed armed police and soldiers on the streets of Brussels in the wake of the Paris attacks, and the arrests of 16 terror suspects during 22 anti-terror raids across the capital.
Meanwhile a spokesman from the German Interior Ministry refused to comment on counter terrorism measures for operational reasons.
‘Germany is still in the crosshairs of Jihadist terrorism,’ he said, adding the country had reviewed and adapted its security measures, where necessary, following the Paris attacks.
The country was ‘advised’ to implement stricter security controls, including stricter controls for air and train travel, the day after the Paris attacks.
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