This week’s UEFA Champions League games "will go ahead as scheduled despite an Islamic State terror threat." Several posts circulated on social media "alleging to be from the Al-Azaim Foundation" -- a media arm of ISIS-K -- "called for attacks at the four stadiums hosting the matches this week." There are two matches scheduled to be held in Madrid -- Real Madrid hosts Manchester City tonight at the Santiago Bernabéu and Atletico Madrid welcomes Borussia Dortmund at the Cívitas Metropolitano tomorrow. Arsenal plays Bayern Munich at Emirates Stadium in London tonight and Paris Saint-Germain hosts Barcelona tomorrow at the Parc des Princes in Paris. France Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said police have "considerably reinforced security" around the stadium (AP, 4/9).
The Spanish interior ministry has announced an "extraordinary security response" to the threats relating to the Real Madrid-Manchester City match. More than 3,500 police officers "will be in force" around the Bernabéu, and fans "will be searched as they pass through four separate rings of security." Snipers will be "posted on the roofs" of buildings overlooking the stadium (London TIMES, 4/9).
