Euro 2024 is at a “very high risk” of an ISIS terrorist attack as Germany has become a “hub” for terrorist activity, an expert has claimed.
Speaking to the Daily Express, Lucas Webber warned that ISIS operatives are working from Germany to plot attacks on major sporting events, including Euro 2024 and the Paris Olympics later this summer.
The research fellow at TheSoufanCenter, a research body on global security issues, said: “ISIS-K’s media production and propaganda organ have been calling for attacks on sporting events, specifically in Germany. They have threatened the Euros, threatened the use of drones on football stadiums.
“Germany is really the European hub for this rapidly expanding European network. There have been at least five plots foiled in recent years.
“Germany is not only a hub but also appears to be a launchpad … two Afghan nationals were arrested in Germany for plotting attacks on the Swedish parliament.
READ MORE: ‘ISIS Euro 2024 terror plot’ foiled as suspect arrested before England game
“There is a very high risk of attacks in Germany at the Euros, and also in France during the Olympics this summer because the propagandists are hammering the narratives.
“The foiled plots show that would-be attackers are listening … it is a really global, high-volume, aggressive incitement campaign.
“If ISIS-K was going to launch another external operation like in Moscow, it would make sense that they would do an operation that is much more deadly at a sporting event in Europe.
“There is a very high risk of inspired attacks and a high risk of attacks with death tolls similar to Moscow.”
Last week, a suspect was arrested near Stuttgart on suspicion of preparing a terror attack on behalf of ISIS.
The Iraqi called Mahmoud A was accused of joining ISIS in 2016.
Interior minister Nancy Faeser said: “Our security authorities are extremely vigilant, follow every tip-off, and strike hard to protect our country against Islamist threats.”
Thomas Haldenwang, head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, the BfV, warned last week: “A possible scenario is a large-scale, co-ordinated attack of the kind we recently saw in Moscow.”
ISIS-K killed 145 people during its attack on the Crocus City Hall in Moscow in March. The terrorists went on a shooting rampage before setting the venue on fire.
On Sunday, ISIS-K launched another attack in Dagestan, Russia. Images circulated showed a church and a synagogue up in flames.
