Security Forces Foil Islamic Terror Plot Days Before UEFA European Championship Kickoff

Just days before the start of the European Championship in Germany, state security and police in North Rhine-Westphalia thwarted a potential terrorist attack targeting public viewing events, according to an exclusive report from Bild citing intelligence sources. They arrested a 23-year-old German-Moroccan-Polish citizen named Soufian T., who applied to work as a steward at UEFA for EURO 2024.

Soufian T., from Bonn, sought accreditation to oversee security at “side events” like fan zones and public viewing spots outside football stadiums. During a background check, authorities discovered he held Islamic views flagged by State Security and the Office for the Protection of the Constitution. The Cologne Police Headquarters intervened to prevent him from getting accredited.

It was also revealed that Soufian T. applied for roles at major events in Rhineland-Palatinate, including the “Rock am Ring” festival and the Nürburgring 24-hour race. Investigators suspect he booked a one-way ticket to Istanbul in May from Cologne-Bonn Airport.

Concerns escalated, prompting the Federal Prosecutor General to investigate him for potentially supporting ISPK (Islamic State in Pakistan and Khorasan), a dangerous IS offshoot known for decentralized operations and online propaganda. ISPK claimed responsibility for the deadly Moscow concert hall attack and posed threats to Cologne Cathedral and Vienna’s St. Stephen’s Cathedral. (See RAIR Foundation’s detailed report on ISPK here)

Following his arrest at Cologne-Bonn Airport, Soufian T., accompanied by his mother and sister, remained silent about the charges. His mother claimed they planned a pilgrimage to Mecca with onward travel to Riyadh, supported by presented tickets. Investigators later searched his apartment, seizing phones, data storage, and computers, along with suspicious recordings.

This case echoes similar challenges faced by French investigators, who recently detained an 18-year-old Chechen believed to have plotted an Islamic attack on the upcoming Olympic Games in July.

Source: NiUS