After threats from the Islamic State jihadist group, the authorities took action. To secure PSG’s meeting against FC Barcelona, this Wednesday evening in the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League (9 p.m. on RMC Sport 1), the Paris police prefect will strengthen the system. Full update on the situation.
Europe facing the threat. PSG hosts FC Barcelona this Wednesday in the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League. A match over which a certain tension floats, linked to the publication of a call from accounts close to the Islamic State organization to target the stadiums hosting European matches this week. RMC Sport takes stock of the state of this threat and the response from the authorities.
· Who threatens the Champions League?
Since Monday evening, visuals have been circulating on social networks. On a poster, the four stadiums of the quarter-final first legs of the Champions League are represented. In the foreground, an Islamic State fighter, armed with an assault rifle with the inscription “Kill Them All” (kill them all, in French). In a second image, the Islamic State’s communications branch asks its “brothers” to “prepare their weapons” in order to “develop a plan” for these Champions League matches. Then, in a third image, a message is broadcast with a reference to the 2015 attacks in Paris.
· Is this a direct message from the Islamic State?
“This is not a direct threat from a terrorist organization, specifies Jean-Charles Brisard, president of the Terrorism Analysis Center, for RMC. These are calls launched by a media organ of the Islamic State . These messages and calls are repetitive, there have been eight in ten days targeting sports venues specifically. This means that there is a desire on the part of this organization to encourage supporters to take action. , including providing operational advice. Last night (Tuesday), the final message on the stadiums was to say: ‘If you can’t walk into the stadiums, attack them from the air. Use drones to ‘attack.”
· What security system for this match?
For this Champions League match, rated 2 on a scale of 5 by the DNLH services, four mobile force units were planned for this device for a match which did not represent any particular risks. This was in effect until Tuesday morning.
After the threats were published, the Paris Police Prefect spoke with the Minister of the Interior to strengthen the security system around this meeting. Finally, seven mobile force units will be deployed (on average 80 to 100 police officers/gendarmes per unit). A drone detection team and BRI agents will also be present around the Parc des Princes. Patrols will be numerous and visible. PSG has also strengthened its security system. Around 1,500 stewards will be present for this meeting and the pat-downs will be more thorough than usual.
Terrorist threat to PSG-Barça: fear in the stadiums? – 10/04
· Is the Parc des Princes the only highly secure place this evening?
“Yes, there will be special protection for this quarter-final but no, it will not be the only place because the terrorists can also deal us a certain number of blows where we do not expect them”, judged the Minister of Interior Gérald Darmanin this Tuesday morning.
And added: “I asked the DGSI to communicate the information we had to the other services of the other countries which are hosting quarter-finals. As regards the match which will take place in the Paris region, the Prefect of Police with whom I spoke very early this morning, has considerably strengthened security resources and the DGSI is particularly hard at work to provide preventive intelligence.
Since yesterday, the DGSI services have also been in permanent contact with their European partners involved in these meetings, Spain and England. This was also the purpose of the meeting organized last night at the Ministry of the Interior with all the stakeholders around the security of this meeting.
Reassuringly, Prisca Thevenot, government spokesperson, however affirmed this Wednesday that there is “no proven threat” in terms of security for the PSG-Barça match: “Our caution and our responsibility remain at all times” , added the minister, specifying that the security system is “reinforced with regard to the Vigipirate plan which was triggered (…) two days after the terrorist attack which took place in Russia”.
· Will supporters change their animations?
Given the security context, linked to the threats of terrorist attack, the traditional pre-match procession should ultimately not take place. The CUP decided to organize a brief rally at the foot of the Auteuil stand. With here also a very clear instruction: everyone must be back in the stadium by 7:30 p.m.-8 p.m., so that the turn is quickly full. Last night’s matches in London and Madrid went perfectly. Which reassures UEFA, which says it is “aware of terrorist threats”. The body ensures “to be in close liaison with the authorities of the respective sites”.
Nicolas Pelletier and Stéphane Sellami