Threat level increased as major events become targets for ‘advanced bomb-making skills’

Police in Germany have raised the terror threat level after fears grow of more attacks on high-profile events following claims the Dortmund bombers wanted to incite a backlash against Muslims. The federal Bundeskriminalamt (BKA) upped the country’s official alarm rating to the second-highest on Friday (April 14) in the wake of the attack on the Borussia Dortmund team bus. The move was prompted by the belief that suspects are still at large, have advanced bomb-making skills and are willing to hit major targets for maximum publicity. The BKA Criminal Police Office has included all football games and concerts in the catch-all directive. It says military-grade explosives were used to target the coach that was transporting the players to their stadium for a Champions League quarter-final clash with AS Monaco last week. The BKA believes that these were planted by members of the far right rather than by Islamists. The pipe bombs, filled with shrapnel, exploded near Dortmund’s vehicle, injuring the Spanish central defender Marc Bartra and a police officer on escort duty. The German club player underwent surgery on his arm after being injured in the bomb blasts. A bone in his arm was broken and debris lodged in his hand. Three letters found nearby, which claimed the bombing on behalf of Islamists, were fabricated, said the investigators. The military-grade detonators could have been wired only by someone with “professional skills”, a police spokesperson added. Joachim Herrmann, Bavaria’s Interior Minister, said the “truly worrying” aspect of the Dortmund attack was the “technically perfect construction of the explosive devices”. He warned that similar events could take place on “any other street in Germany”. Neo-Nazi groups have planted explosives in the past, notably in 2004 in Cologne, when Turkish immigrants were targeted. The alert circulated to regional police forces said more “publicity-seeking” attacks were likely. “It is clear that this was not only about football but about achieving maximum publicity. Therefore, there are similar risks – for instance, for pop concerts,” said Mr Herrmann. More than 100 police officers and detectives have been assigned to the Dortmund investigation. German event organisers have been told to hire more security staff following the April 11 attack. Two suspected Islamists were arrested in Dortmund after the attack, one of whom is still in custody. He is an Iraqi asylum seeker who is thought to have led a so-called Islamic State (Daesh) death squad but he has not been linked to the bus attack. Other lines of inquiry include the possibility that the attack was planned by “foreign intelligence” services, far-left groups or a deranged individual. “One of the most likely scenarios is that the attack had a far-right background,” a BKA spokesperson added. Meanwhile, Welsh forces are mounting an “unprecedented” security operation when Cardiff hosts world football`s biggest club competition in the summer. Maximum protection has been promised to ensure the Champions League final passes off smoothly at the Principality Stadium. The pledge of a “safe environment” for the June 3 showpiece comes as a total of 1,500 officers are planned to police the event with South Wales Police (SWP) colleagues from Dyfed-Powys, Gwent and North Wales. Speaking after the April 11 bombings, SWP Superintendent Steve Furnham said: “The events in Germany are being fully investigated by the German authorities and we cannot speculate on the matter. “But detailed safety and security planning and preparation for the Uefa Champions League Finals in Cardiff has been going ahead for many months. “We are working with our partners here in South Wales as well as with other security forces across the country to ensure a safe and secure environment for the finals in June.” The UK Government has given a £1.4 million grant to SWP towards funding the extra costs.