Strasbourg Cathedral bombing plot, Failed terrorist plot at Cathedral square in Strasbourg, France.
The Strasbourg Cathedral bombing plot was a planned terrorist attack targeting the city center of Strasbourg, France, uncovered just before the turn of the millennium. The attackers planned to detonate pressure cookers packed with explosives at the busy Christmas market held right in front of the Gothic cathedral on New Year's Eve.
On December 26, 2000, French and German authorities arrested several suspects following a raid in Frankfurt, where bomb-making materials and incriminating videos were seized. The trial that followed ended with fourteen convictions, and the main plotters received sentences of around ten to twelve years.
The Christmas market next to the cathedral is one of the oldest in France and draws visitors from across Europe every December. The narrow streets around the market fill with stalls and warm light, making it one of the most attended gatherings in the region during the holiday season.
The area around the cathedral sits in the heart of Strasbourg's old town and is easy to reach on foot, as most of the surrounding streets are largely car-free. Visiting in December requires extra patience, since the streets become very crowded and the Christmas market barriers change the usual walking routes.
The key lead that unraveled the plot came from British intelligence, which intercepted a phone call in which funding for the operation was being requested. Without that intercept, the authorities might never have learned of the plan in time to act.
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