France Elevates Anti-Terror Alert to Highest Level
Poland, Adjacent to Ukraine, Strengthens Security
Italy Increases Security Measures Ahead of Easter
U.S. Prepares for Potential Cross-Border Terrorists
Following the shooting attack by an armed group in Moscow, Russia, the United States and major Western European countries have successively intensified their anti-terrorism security measures.
The United States, concerned about terrorist groups crossing the border, has stepped up border security with Mexico. Meanwhile, several key European countries, including France, are bolstering security measures to safeguard against possible terrorist attacks targeting the public in the lead-up to Easter.
According to a comprehensive report by Reuters, CNN, and The Guardian on the 26th, Western European countries are on high alert for preventing potential terror attacks after a shooting and arson attack, believed to be carried out by the extremist armed group Islamic State (IS).
France was the first to strengthen its anti-terror security measures immediately after the Russian terror attack. It was confirmed that there had been attempts at terror attacks by IS in France even before the Moscow incident occurred.
French President Emmanuel Macron identified IS as the group behind the Moscow terror attack and stated, “They were behind foiled attempts to attack France over the past few months.”
He revealed, “and the information available to us, to our (intelligence) services as well as to our main partners, indicates indeed that it was an entity of the Islamic State which instigated and carried out this (moscow) attack. This specific group … had over the past months carried out several (attack) attempts on our soil (France).”
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal also explained the reason for increasing the Vigipirate (security threat assessment) to its highest level, saying, “France has thwarted two attempts by extremists that could have led to terror this year.”
With the Summer Olympics coming up, France is bolstering its national security readiness to its highest level.
Other countries followed France in stepping up their security. Italy is enhancing security during the “Holy Week” leading up to Easter at the end of March. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, “We will increase surveillance and checks, especially in places where people gather and move the most.”
Germany is also closely monitoring terror threats. Interior Ministry spokesperson Cornelius Funke said, “The threat from Islamic extremists remains acute, but authorities’ risk assessment hasn’t changed so far as a result of the Moscow attack.”
The United States has also strengthened its border security to block the entry of terrorists. The U.S. Border Patrol declared the previous day, “Terrorists are crossing the border,” and openly expressed their intention to strengthen security.
According to a report by CBN the previous day, the U.S. government is concerned about the possibility of similar crimes occurring against Americans living in the U.S. or abroad.
Tore Hamming, a researcher at the International Center for the Study of Radicalization (ICSR) at King’s College London, warned, “Western Europe has been a target (of IS) for a long time. Attacking the French Olympics is undoubtedly the realization of IS’s dream, and I am sure that part of the plan is already being implemented.”
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