Germany Rethinks Cologne Cathedral Security Following Barcelona Attack

Germany Rethinks Cologne Cathedral Security Following Barcelona Attack

German police have placed concrete barriers around the cathedral in order to boost security.

In an effort to boost security around soft targets, police in Germany have placed concrete barriers in front of Cologne's world famous gothic cathedral after reports that Islamist terrorists sought to target Barcelona's La Sagrada Familia last week.

The move comes after several attacks throughout Europe drove cities to begin rethinking their security plans. Many did not make a move to bolster security due to high costs and belief that the security measures would become obsolete one day, but since the terror attack in Barcelona that killed 13 and injured dozens more, major cities are making moves to protect critical infrastructure and their citizens.

"We took the decision to act as quickly as possible after looking at attacks in Europe," a police spokesperson told Reuters. "Our job is to protect sensitive points, and the cathedral is a symbol of Cologne, known around the world."

Cologne boosted the presence of police in the time after the Paris Attack in 2015, but were reluctant to place any permanent security measures because city officials did not want to disrupt the flow of every day life. Since that attack in Paris that killed 130 people, many more terror cells have targeted crowded spaces and used vehicles as weapons of mass destruction. It has become glaringly apparent that something has to be done to protect these historic cities.

In the country's capital, Berlin, barriers still remain in place around the site of a Christmas market where a militant drove a stolen truck into crowds and killed 12 people last year, but very few other visible measures have been implemented.

"We don't want to wall up the city," Andreas Geisel, Berlin's senator for interior affairs said in an interview with a local newspaper. "That would achieve the opposite of what we want to do: to send out an image of calm and relaxedness."

 

Featured

  • Survey: 54% of Organizations Cite Technical Debt as Top Hurdle to Identity System Modernization

    Modernizing identity systems is proving difficult for organizations due to two key challenges: decades of accumulated Identity and Access Management (IAM) technical debt and the complexity of managing access across multiple identity providers (IDPs). These findings come from the new Strata Identity-commissioned report, State of Multi-Cloud Identity: Insights and Trends for 2025. The report, based on survey data from the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), highlights trends and challenges in securing cloud environments. The CSA is the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment. Read Now

  • Study: Nearly Half of Companies Exclude Cybersecurity Teams When Developing, Onboarding and Implementing AI Solutions

    Only 35 percent of cybersecurity professionals or teams are involved in the development of policy governing the use of AI technology in their enterprise, and nearly half (45 percent) report no involvement in the development, onboarding, or implementation of AI solutions, according to the recently released 2024 State of Cybersecurity survey report from ISACA, a global professional association advancing trust in technology. Read Now

  • New Report Series Highlights E-Commerce Threats, Fraud Against Retailers

    Trustwave, a cybersecurity and managed security services provider, recently released a series of reports detailing the threats facing the retail sector, marking the second year of its ongoing research into these critical security issues. Read Now

  • Stay Secure in 2024: Updated Cybersecurity Tips for the Office and at Home

    Cyber criminals get more inventive every year. Cybersecurity threats continue to evolve and are a moving target for business owners in 2024. Companies large and small need to employ cybersecurity best practices throughout their organization. That includes security integrators, manufacturers, and end users. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols. 3

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions. 3

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings. 3