New arrest after suspected terrorist threat at Cologne Cathedral

Police in Germany have arrested another suspect in connection with a possible planned terrorist attack on Cologne Cathedral.

The suspect is a 41-year-old man who was taken into custody in the western German city of Bochum on New Year's Eve. He has both German and Turkish citizenship, a spokesperson said on New Year's Day.

A total of five suspects have now been detained in connection with the terrorism alert. On Christmas Eve, a 30-year-old Tajik was taken into custody "to avert danger."

On Sunday morning, three men were arrested in western Germany. The police say they were a 25-year-old, a 30-year-old and a 38-year-old. They were described as being of "Tajik and Uzbek nationality".

Earlier on Monday police in Cologne said they would be continuing to guard the city's cathedral. "How long this measure will be maintained is currently under review," a spokesman said.

Shortly before Christmas, the police received information about a possible Islamist plan to attack Cologne Cathedral on New Year's Eve, leading to increased security measures in and around the building.

Despite the security concerns New Year's Eve at Cologne Cathedral passed without any major incidents. The Cardinal of Cologne, Rainer Maria Woelki, celebrated an end-of-year mass with the faithful under heavy police protection.