France elevates terror alert to maximum following Daesh-linked Moscow assault
France heightens security alert to maximum after Daesh claimed responsibility for deadly Moscow assault, as death toll rises to 137
France escalated its security alert status to the highest level on Sunday in response to the recent terrorist attack at a concert hall in Moscow, which the Daesh terrorist group has claimed responsibility for.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced the decision on social media, stating that it was made “in light of the Islamic State’s (an alternate acronym for Daesh) claiming responsibility for the (Moscow) attack and the threats weighing on our country,” particularly with the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.
President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency security meeting following Friday’s attack in a Moscow suburb, where at least 137 people were killed, according to Russian investigators.
The attack, claimed by Daesh’s Afghan affiliate, stands as Europe’s deadliest terrorist assault attributed to the terrorist organization.
France’s terror alert system, which comprises three levels, has been elevated to its highest tier. This allows for extraordinary security measures, including heightened patrols by armed forces in public areas such as train stations, airports, and religious sites.
France, which has experienced numerous deadly attacks in the past, including the infamous Bataclan concert hall massacre in 2015, was already on high alert ahead of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, expecting millions of visitors.
Security concerns loom large for the opening ceremony on July 26, particularly with plans for boats to navigate the Seine River and large crowds to congregate along the embankments.
In related developments, the death toll from the Moscow concert hall shooting climbed to 137, as confirmed by Russia’s federal investigative authority. The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities having recovered substantial amounts of ammunition and weaponry from the scene.
Additionally, Russia’s Health Ministry reported that 180 individuals were hospitalized, with 142 currently receiving in-patient treatment.
President Vladimir Putin declared March 24 a national day of mourning for the victims of the attack, as Russian authorities continue to make arrests in connection with the incident, detaining a total of 11 individuals, including four directly involved, according to the Federal Security Service.
Source: Newsroom
