Security concerns rise following attack in Russia: France raises terror alert
France has raised its terror alert level following the attack in Russia that left approximately 140 people dead. The French Prime Minister announced that they are expecting attacks.
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12PUNTO FOREIGN NEWS
France has raised its national terror alert level following the attack in Russia that resulted in the deaths of 137 people.
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal wrote on X on Sunday: "Following the attack in Moscow, the President of France called a meeting of the National Defense and Security Council this evening."
The Prime Minister added, "In light of the Islamic State's claim of responsibility for the attack and the threats facing our country, we have decided to raise the Vigipirate plan to its highest level."
France has been under heightened security measures since the January 2015 terror attacks, in which a group of Islamic State militants killed 17 people in Paris and its suburbs. Following past Islamic State attacks, the government implemented Operation Sentinel, which deployed armed soldiers to patrol the capital.
In November 2015, France witnessed the deadliest attacks in its recent history, when suicide bombers and gunmen killed 130 people in Paris.
On Friday, four people opened fire on civilians at the Crocus City Hall outside Moscow and set the building on fire. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that all of the terrorists were subsequently detained while attempting to flee by car toward the Ukrainian border.
The jihadist group Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-K) claimed responsibility for the massacre. The Moscow administration had made statements implying that Ukraine was behind the Islamic State.