Security reinforced at PSG v Barcelona game after IS ‘threat’: French minister

(FILES) Riot police officers stand inside the stadium prior the UEFA Champions League Group A football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Galatasaray at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on December 11, 2019. – Security will be “considerably reinforced” at Wednesday’s Champions League match in the French capital between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona after a “threat” from the Islamic State group, the interior minister said. Gerald Darmanin said the jihadist group had threatened all the quarter-final matches on April 9 and 10, not just PSG’s first leg clash with Barcelona at the Parc des Princes. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Security will be “considerably reinforced” at Wednesday’s Champions League match in the French capital between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona after a “threat” from the Islamic State group, the interior minister said.

Gerald Darmanin said the jihadist group had threatened all the quarter-final matches on Tuesday and Wednesday, not just PSG’s first leg clash with Barcelona at the Parc des Princes.

Darmanin said there had been “a clear threat publicly expressed by the Islamic State.”

“The police, whom I spoke to very early this morning, have considerably reinforced the security measures,” the minister told reporters.

A source close to the issue told AFP: “IS has threatened the Champions League quarter-finals, not specifically in France, through one of its communication outlets.”

In the matches on Tuesday, Arsenal take on Bayern Munich in London and Real Madrid host reigning European champions Manchester City.

In Wednesday’s other game, Atletico Madrid faces Borussia Dortmund in the Spanish capital.

European football’s governing body, UEFA, said all the matches would go ahead despite the