The famed cathedral in the western German city of Cologne will continue to be off-limits to tourists due to concerns about a potential terrorist attack.

Oliver Gassen, the cathedral’s head of security, disclosed to dpa on Tuesday that while all religious services will proceed as scheduled, visits by tourists unfortunately won’t be feasible. He further mentioned that the cathedral would be closed between services.

Cologne’s Cathedral, a significant attraction located adjacent to the city’s central train station, typically draws in more than 100,000 visitors between Christmas and New Year. Regrettably, this year will not see that usual influx, as confirmed by Gassen.

Nevertheless, despite the terror alert, churchgoers appeared undeterred, noted Cathedral Provost Guido Assmann, who oversees the cathedral chapter. He observed that attendance at Christmas mass was higher than the previous year, indicating continued participation despite the security concerns.

Intelligence reports had indicated the possibility of an Islamist group targeting both Cologne Cathedral and a church in Vienna, specifically on New Year’s Eve, according to Cologne police.

Ahead of the traditional Christmas Eve service, meticulous checks on individuals entering Cologne Cathedral were conducted without any incidents, stated a police spokeswoman on Monday. Additionally, despite heightened police presence in the vicinity, there were no disturbances reported around the cathedral.

Similarly, in Vienna, police implemented increased security measures during Christmas Eve masses, which proceeded without any untoward incidents. In connection with an investigation into an Islamist network, four individuals were detained in the Austrian capital, with two men and a woman currently in pre-trial custody, as reported by the Austrian Press Agency (APA).