Security heightened ‘considerably’ at Champions League clashes including Arsenal and Man City amid ISIS attack fears as Met Police say they are ‘aware of the threat’

The Met are ‘aware’ of an apparent threat by ISIS against stadiums hosting Champions League games this week – while authorities in Spain and France say they are ‘on alert’ and have stepped up security plans.

The Al Azaim Foundation, a media channel responsible for spreading messages from the ISIS-K branch of the terror group – the same branch suspected by US intelligence of being behind last month’s attack in Moscow – shared a post threatening an attack on all four stadiums playing host to this week’s quarter-finals.

This includes the Emirates Stadium in London, which will host Arsenal v Bayern Munich, and the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid – where Manchester City will take on Real Madrid. Both matches are being played tonight.

The post – captioned ‘kill them all’ – also named the Parc des Princes in Paris and the Metropolitano – also in Madrid – which are both hosting matches tomorrow.

Police in the Spanish capital have activated all of their ‘alert’ and ‘response systems’ following the supposed terrorist threat, while French Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said security will be ‘considerably reinforced’ at the Parc des Princes.

UEFA said it was aware of the threats but said games would go ahead as planned ‘with appropriate security arrangements in place’.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, overseeing the policing of London on Tuesday, said in a statement given to MailOnline that the force was ‘aware’ of the threat and assured the public that a ‘robust policing plan’ was in place.

ISIS has allegedly threatened to launch an attack against the four stadiums hosting the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Champions League – including the Emirates. Pictured: Police are seen outside Arsenal’s stadium in London today 

Police are seen in Madrid today ahead of tonight’s clash between Manchester City and Real Madrid, following the ISIS threat

‘The UK terrorism threat level remains at ‘substantial’ meaning an attack is likely, and we work closely with colleagues from across Counter Terrorism Policing in planning for events here in London, to take into account any relevant information that could help us to keep those attending safe,’ Mr Adelekan said.

‘We’re aware of online and media reports in relation to calls to target matches across Europe and here in London. However, I want to reassure the public that we have a robust policing plan in place for tonight’s match and we continue to work closely alongside the club’s security team to ensure that the match passes peacefully.

‘As ever, we ask the public to remain vigilant, and if they see any that doesn’t look or feel right, then report it to police or security staff,’ he added.

Former Met Police officer Norman Brennan said the UK security services and police would also respond to the alleged threat depending on how credible they believed it to be. 

He told MailOnline: ‘MI5, MI6 and the Met’s anti-terror squad monitor anything and everything to do with terrorism, including attack threats.

‘They are very ahead on this kind of thing and will have plans in place depending on how serious they consider the treat to be.

‘They’ll be a heightened security presence with cameras and cars, while people connected to ISIS monitored.

‘Everyone will be on alert while allowing people to get on with their lives – we can’t have terrorists deciding how we behave.’

The Spanish Government have activated their security procedures for the Champions League double-header this week. 

It’s believed more than 3,000 members of security have been assigned to the fixtures in Spain – Real Madrid vs Manchester City and Atletico vs Borussia Dortmund. 

That reportedly includes over 2,000 agents from the National Police and Civil Guard, who will station themselves in the Spanish capital over the next 24 hours.

Just over 8,000 Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund fans are expected to travel to Spain for the fixtures due to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday evening. 

Head of The Ministry of the Interior, Fernando Grand-Marlaska, said on Tuesday morning: ‘In terms of preventing the terrorist threat, the State Security Forces and Bodies have activated all their early warning and protection systems, as well as all their response mechanisms ready and willing.’

He went on to insist that all security protocols have been adopted to ensure the safety of both the players and fans inside the stadiums. 

Luis Enrique, the coach of Paris St Germain who host Barcelona at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday evening, said at his team’s press conference: ‘I hope it can be controlled and I hope it’s just a threat and that nothing will happen.

‘Of course we are concerned.’

PSG player Danilo added: ‘Security is always important, not just for us as the players, but for everyone, for everyone who loves sport and this game.

‘I do think that’s important, but we do have to focus on what we need to do, playing football. There are other people who need to focus on everyone’s safety and security.’

The Islamic State’s last attack took place on March 22 at the Crocus City Hall – a large concert hall in Moscow – once again raising the spectre of ISIS in Europe.

The Stade de France was targeted by ISIS-supporting suicide bombers in 2015. Pictured are spectators spilling onto the pitch after explosions were head outside the arena

Firefighters and rescuers evacuate an injured person near the Bataclan concert hall in central Paris, on November 14, 2015

Several men stormed the building, dressed in camouflage and killed 14r people, wounding a further 551.

The threat from ISIS will also bring back haunting memories of 2015 when France‘s national stadium was hit in a series of coordinated attacks across the French capital which left 130 people dead and hundreds more injured.

Three people died and several others were injured when two suicide attacks and a bombing occurred close to Stade de France during the friendly match between France and Germany on November 13, 2015.

The string of attacks began at the stadium after the suicide bombers had failed to gain entry to the arena itself. The sounds of the explosions were picked up by microphones during the live coverage of the game.

As security fears grew, thousands of spectators were evacuated onto the pitch as the players watched on from the tunnel. The Germany team stayed at the stadium overnight before returning to Frankfurt early on Saturday morning.

Another group of attackers later opened fire of crowded cafes and restaurants in the city, with one detonating an explosive – killing himself at the same time.

A third group of terrorists then carried out the night’s single most deadly attack, a mass shooting on the Bataclan theatre where 1,500 people were attending a gig.

There, the gunmen took hostages leading to a stand-off with police, before they were either shot or detonated their suicide vests.

Of the 130 people killed on the night, 90 were killed at the Bataclan. A further 416 people were injured, almost 100 critically. Seven of the attackers were also killed.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was in response to French airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria and Iraq.

At its peak in 2015, the self-proclaimed Caliphate ruled an area with an estimated population of twelve million people on whom it enforced an extremist interpretation of Islamic Law, while boasting a fighting force of 30,000.

However, ISIS was largely defeated in the Middle East by 2019 at the hands of America, Iraqi and Kurdish forces, who pushed it out of the territories it controlled.

The defeat of the Caliphate has forced the group to resort to insurgency tactics, although it still maintains significant presence in Africa.

A view shows the burning Crocus City Hall concert hall following an ISIS attack on March 22

ISIS’ news agency Amaq released sickening a 90-second selfie video of the attack on Moscow last month that is too graphic for MailOnline to share

In another sign of Islamic State’s remergence, Police in Iran announced on Saturday the arrested of a senior operative of the group – with two other members of the group accused of planning a suicide attack during next week’s celebrations marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The police said Mohammad Zaker, known as ‘Ramesh’, and the other two were arrested in Karaj, west of the capital Tehran, following clashes, according to Iranian media. Eight others accompanying the men were also detained, they said.

Islamic State, which harbours a virulent hatred for Iran’s dominant Shi’ite sect, claimed responsibility for two explosions in Iran in January that killed nearly 100 people and wounded scores at a memorial marking the fourth anniversary of the assassination of top commander Qassem Soleimani in Iraq in 2020 by a US drone.

Iran arrested 35 people in January, including a commander of Islamic State’s Afghanistan-based branch ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K), who it said were linked to the twin bombings on January 3 in the southeastern city of Kerman.