German Interior Minister Nancy Feser said that the reaction to a possible attack by Islamists on a cathedral in Cologne shows that the security authorities take such threats seriously, DPA reports. Agerpres.

“We all love our Christmas traditions and we will not be afraid of our way of life. But it is also true that we take the threat posed by Islamist terrorism seriously and are extremely vigilant,” Feiser said.

She added that federal and local authorities are using all resources to recognize danger at an early stage.

Police have stepped up security at a cathedral in Cologne amid signs of a possible attack by an Islamist group. On Saturday evening, the cathedral was searched, including with tracking dogs.

The leadership of the German police also announced that on the evening before Christmas, all visitors to the cathedral in Cologne will be checked.

According to the website of the German newspaper Bild, the security services of Austria, Germany and Spain have received indications that the Islamist group intends to carry out new attacks in Europe, possibly in the run-up to Christmas and the New Year.