Police in Madrid and Paris on alert after IS threat to Champions League venues

Police in Madrid and Paris have stepped up security before this week’s Champions League quarter-finals following an apparent threat from Islamic State (IS).

Although Spain’s interior ministry stressed the country’s terror alert remained at level four of five, it said 2,000 officers from the National Police and Guardia Civil forces would be deployed to help municipal police patrol Real Madrid v Manchester City on Tuesday and Atlético Madrid v Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, which will both be played in the capital.

“This deployment is being coordinated and supported by the state-wide measures established under the anti-terrorist prevention, protection and response plan,” the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The government and the state security forces have taken all relevant initiatives to guarantee the safety of participants and spectators at the two sporting events – as well as the safety of Spanish citizens as whole – so that they can go about their day-to-day business knowing that Spain is one of the safest countries in the world.”

France’s interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, said the security around Wednesday’s match in Paris between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona was being “considerably reinforced” following a “threat” from IS.

“We have seen, among other things, a communication from Islamic State that specifically targets the stadiums,” Darmanin said.

He pointed out that IS had called for “an attack on a sporting venue” about 10 days ago.

“All sports can be affected,” Darmanin added. “The prefect of police has considerably reinforced security resources [at Parc des Princes]. It goes without saying that, when it comes to important occasions like the football Champions League, we are discussing matters with our partners.”

A source close to the matter told Agence France-Presse: “IS has threatened the Champions League quarter-finals, not specifically in France, through one of its communication outlets.”

France raised its security to the highest level, urgence attentat (attack emergency) after last month’s Moscow terrorist attack, in which 144 people were killed. IS claimed responsibility for the attack – a claim confirmed by US and French intelligence agencies.

Uefa said it was aware of the alleged terrorist threat and was liaising closely with the authorities at the different venues.

“All matches are planned to go ahead as scheduled with appropriate security arrangements in place,” it added in a statement.

The Metropolitan police has been contacted for comment on security measures before Tuesday’s match between Arsenal and Bayern Munich at the Emirates Stadium in London.