A terror warning for Christmas and New Year are keeping police in various parts of Germany busy to protect citizens at this time.
Today is Holy Night when Germans celebrate Christmas in the evening. The Catholic Church is warning people to not bring purses to the service at the famous Cathedral, the number one landmark and tourist attraction in the city.
Cologne police are working to protect the کولون ديولينڊل after having received a credible terror threat for Christmas and New Years.
Some arrests were already made.
At the same time, it is raining hard in Germany while the white Christmas is no reality this year.
According to the German Weather Service, 2023 was the wettest year since 1881 in the State of North Rhine Westphalia, home of Duesseldorf and Cologne. Numbers already exceed the wettest year recorded in 1966.
Authorities in Duesseldorf, the capital city of NRW on the Rhine River the flood protection gate to protect the famous old town from flooding was closed. The old town is home to hundreds of bars and restaurants, the famous Christmas market, the historic city hall, and other well-known attractions.
Restrictions of ship traffic on Rivers, such as the Rhine are in effect.
While Germans are getting ready for Sunday night, the holy night, and when Christmas is celebrated in the country, the fire department has been working around the clock to prevent a series of floodings in populated areas.
Cologne radio station WDR in Cologne was warning listeners all night to not remain in basements and to secure important papers, such as driver’s licenses, ID cards, passports, and money. People were asked to remain on the upper floors of buildings in regions vulnerable to flooding.
Officials recommend for people to stay home and avoid roads. Some regions such as the city of Bünde raised the alarm level to 3, the highest warning. Police warned citizens Saturday night, that overflooding could take place in the city center.
Also in the Center German state of Thuringen, authorities are dealing with a similar situation.
So far the situation seems to be under control, and there are no reports of major damages, while warnings remain in place.
