Italy, France Raise Terror Alert After ISIS Claims Moscow Attacks (Worthy News Alert)
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
ROME/PARIS/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – European Union nations, including Italy and France, stepped up security measures Monday amid concerns that the Islamic State group, or ISIS, will extend its operations in Europe after claiming Friday’s attacks near Moscow that killed at least 137 people.
Friday’s shootings at the Crocus City Hall have raised the alarm in Europe about the risk from Islamic extremists, mainly the Central Asian affiliate of ISIS, as the continent prepares for significant events such as the Paris Olympics and the European Championships in Germany.
Italy followed France’s decision to increase its security alert posture to the highest level. In Italy, a national security council meeting Monday resulted in a decision to increase security around “Holy Week observances” in the heavily Catholic nation leading up to Easter this weekend.
Security measures were also expected to increase around Vatican City, where Pope Francis will speak to thousands of pilgrims, including on Easter Sunday.
Both surveillance and checks will be increased, “paying the most attention to the places of greatest aggregation and transit of people, as well as sensitive targets,” the Italian Interior Ministry said.
In Germany, Europe’s largest economy, 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.
It came while in Russia’s capital, four alleged gunmen, who appeared to have been beaten, were brought to a court, including one in a wheelchair. They were charged with committing an act of terrorism.
Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that Ukraine was involved in the Moscow massacre, Russia’s worst terror attack in decades charges Kyiv vehemently denied and called “absurd”.
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