MOSCOW, Apr. 11 (Sputnik) - France and Spain are reinforcing security measures ahead of quarterfinal matches in the Champions League, Europe's top club competition, held in Paris and Madrid this week, after a threat from the Islamic State terrorist group, the French government and Spanish media said on Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, a media outlet in charge of spreading messages from IS* issued a call for attacking four Champions League's quarterfinal games in London, Paris and Madrid.
"We have seen, among other things, the ISIS statement that they are targeting stadiums in particular ... Obviously, with regard to the Champions League, I have asked our head of intelligence to share the information we have with our partners regarding the match tomorrow in Paris. I have asked the prefect to significantly increase the security forces. There will be special protection for the quarterfinals," French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told reporters.
The Spanish Interior Ministry ordered the authorities to reinforce security measures at two Champions League quarterfinals in Madrid on Tuesday and Wednesday, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported, citing the country's interior ministry. Over 2,000 law enforcement officers, mainly from the national police, civil guard and Madrid's municipal police, will be involved, the daily reported.
Heightened security measures have been put in place ahead of the match between Spain's Real Madrid and the United Kingdom's Manchester City outside Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid amid threats, although police say security would have been top-notch regardless of the measures, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported.
"The Spanish Ministry of Interior, as well as regional authorities in Madrid, have taken all possible security measures for this match. However, the highest level of security is always in place during such international events. There is no need to sow panic among people. Everything is under control," a law enforcement officer told the correspondent.
The football matches will take place as scheduled, the Union of European Football Associations told RIA Novosti later in the day.
The first quarterfinals of the Champions League will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday at the home stadiums of English football club Arsenal, France's Paris Saint-Germain, Spain's Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.
* A terrorist group, also known as ISIS/ISIL/Islamic State, outlawed in Russia and many other countries.
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