The Spanish government has launched an extensive security operation ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League match against Real Madrid, following alleged terror threats from Islamic State.
The authorities in Madrid have activated all of their “alert” and “response systems” following the supposed terrorist threat, according to reports in Spain.
It comes after Islamic State is alleged to have threatened an attack on all four venues for this week’s Champions League quarter-finals, including the Emirates Stadium in London.
Arsenal host Bayern Munich on Tuesday night, at the same time as City’s match in Madrid. On Wednesday, Paris St-Germain meet Barcelona in France, while Atletico Madrid host Borussia Dortmund.
Spain’s interior ministry has designed an operational deployment in which more than 2,000 National Police agents and also Civil Guard officers are involved with additional back-up from Madrid’s municipal police force.
The security plan is part of the anti-terrorism measures in Spain, where the current alert level is four out of five.
It is reported that the authorities in Madrid held a security meeting in response to the alleged threat from Islamic State. Thousands of supporters from England and Germany are travelling to Madrid this week for the two quarter-final first legs.
On Monday, a post circulated on social media threatened the four Champions League venues – the Emirates, the Santiago Bernabeu, the Metropolitano and the Parc des Princes – with terror attacks. It featured an image of an armed man and the words “Kill them all.”
Earlier this year, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the Moscow attack in which at least 139 people were killed. In January, the group said it had carried out a bomb attack in Iran which killed 84 people and wounded many more.
The Metropolitan Police and Uefa have been contacted for comment.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
