The Cologne fire service was mobilized on Wednesday afternoon after a churchwarden reported noticing the smell of fire inside the Cologne Cathedral, a spokesperson for the fire service told public broadcaster WDR .

The fire department mobilized all its resources, and firetrucks were on the premises of the twin-spired cathedral for about two hours.

About 70 firefighters were called in to make sure that there wasn't a blaze or danger to the cathedral.

But the major operation was called off after no threat was detected. The church remains closed, but the public square outside the church remains open to tourists.

Fire teams carried out a full-scale check in an operation that lasted about two hours Image: Celine Frohnapfel/dpa/picture alliance

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