UEFA have confirmed that this week’s Champions League quarter-final ties will go ahead as planned amid an Islamic State terror threat.
Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium is set to host the first leg of the Gunners’ quarter-final tie against Bayern Munich tonight, while reigning champions Manchester City play away to Real Madrid in this evening’s other heavyweight quarter-final at the Bernabeu.
Atletico Madrid entertain Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain host Barcelona in Wednesday’s quarter-final first legs.
A media outlet linked to the terror group had issued a threat concerning all four of this week’s ties, and European football’s governing body UEFA has now issued a statement on the matter.
‘UEFA is aware of alleged terrorist threats made towards this week’s UEFA Champions League matches and is closely liaising with the authorities at the respective venues,’ the statement said.
‘All matches are planned to go ahead as scheduled with appropriate security arrangements in place.’
The Al Azaim Foundation, often responsible for spreading messages from Isis, shared a sinister poster emblazoned with the message ‘Kill them all’, which featured alongside the names of the four stadiums staging this week’s matches.
London’s Metropolitan Police said they were aware of reports of a threat and had a ‘robust policing plan’ in place for Arsenal’s encounter with Bayern Munich.
‘We are aware of online and media reports in relation to calls to target matches across Europe and here in London. However, I want to reassure the public that we have a robust policing plan in place for tonight’s match,’ a statement read.
Spanish police, meanwhile, confirmed they were on high alert as a result of the chilling threat, with Madrid staging tonight’s first leg between Real Madrid and City, as well as Atleti’s clash with Dortmund 24 hours later.
‘In terms of preventing the terrorist threat, the state security forces and bodies have activated all their early warning and protection systems, as well as all their response mechanisms ready and willing,’ Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Spain’s Head of The Ministry of the Interior, said in a statement.
Gerald Darmanin, the French Interior Minister, reassured supporters that security measures would be ‘considerably reinforced’ when PSG take on Barca in Paris.
‘I will remind you that only ten days ago, Isis shared a picture of the Munich stadium and said action should be taken against sports venues that host football games – although all sports can be targeted,’ Darmanin continued.
‘Given how important the Champions League is for football, we are of course talking to our partners.’
The latest Isis threat comes less than three weeks after the group claimed responsibility for the deadly attack at Moscow’s Crocus Concert Hall, which left at least 145 people dead and 200 injured.
A week on from the massacre in Russia’s capital, a separate Isis threat arrived which hinted at an impending attack on Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena during the side’s Bundesliga meeting with Borussia Dortmund.
However, security was increased and the match went ahead scheduled, with Dortmund beating their rivals 2-0 in Munich.
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