The railway stations and stages of France they have now been cordoned off by police who have increased patrols in a bid to reassure citizens following fresh warnings that Islamic State is planning attacks on European football events.

The increased police presence in the French capital reflects the general concern prevailing in Europe with governments trying to heed the new threats.

For France in particular, the concern is even greater since the warnings come at a sensitive time for the country which is being feverishly prepared for them Olympics in Julythe BBC points out in its report.

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said it had “significantly increased security” at Wednesday night’s Champions League quarter-final match at the Parc des Princes in south-west Paris. He also tried to reassure the citizens by arguing that the risk of an Islamic State attack is not “young”. In fact, he pointed out that two attacks have already been prevented since the beginning of the year thanks to the preparedness of the security forces.

But it is not only France that “fortifies”. This summer is particularly rich in sporting and cultural events across Europe.

Germany is also increasing security in front of him European Football Championship in the summerincluding the rare step of introducing controls at its land borders.

In recent months there have been police raids targeting IS-K supporters in Germany, Belgium and Austria and police reports of failed attacks, for example on the Cologne Cathedral on New Year’s Eve.

The right-wing French newspaper Le Figaro has already warned that too much attention is being paid to Islamic State threats, arguing that “its propagandists have already achieved part of their aim”.

French security expert Guillaume Fard argued that it is important for a democracy like France to appear that doesn’t shy away otherwise “we are playing the game of terrorist organizations who want to create a climate of terror, a climate of mistrust”.

France has been in the Islamic State’s sights several times since the Charlie Hebdo killings in 2015the Bataclan attack of the same year, the Bastille Day killings in Nice in 2016 and even a series of brutal murders of teachers.

Nevertheless the war in Ukraine has added a new dimension, with President Emmanuel Macron warning that Russia now poses a “danger” to the Olympics.

President Macron has adopted a increasingly hard line with the Kremlinwhich seems to have responded with a aggressive cyber attack designed to discredit France at every opportunity.

The threats of the Islamic State

It is reminded that sounded the alarm in Europe after the photo of the Islamic State who invites his fighters to attacks in the stadiums where the quarter-finals of the Champions League will be held.

Specifically, Islamic State uploaded photo on social media who writes “kill them all” and mentions the names of the four stadiums that will be the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Since, in UEFA but also in the authorities of England, Spain and France, the alarm has been sounded as it has not been long since the massacre in Moscow where the Islamic State killed 143 people when it stormed a concert venue.