Lithuania raises terror threat level

The Lithuanian government decided to raise the level of terror attack threat from lowest to low after a meeting on Wednesday.

According to a government statement, the decision was made after taking into account the recommendation from the State Security Department. The decision is being motivated by current events in Europe, explained Gediminas Grina, the head of the Department.

"I believe that such a raise of this level will be an additional stimulus to various institutions to seriously review their capabilities and probably review their level of preparedness if something happens," Grina was quoted as saying in the Cabinet meeting by BNS news agency.

Previous lowest level meant that terror attack in Lithuania is possible but not likely, now the possibility is low, according to the government's statement.

After raising the terror attack threat level, the Cabinet recommends public and municipal institutions to continue operating under daily level of preparedness.

Last month Lithuania's security chiefs reviewed the country's readiness to fight terrorism threats following Paris shootings.

Arturas Paulauskas, the chairman of the Lithuanian parliamentary National Security and Defense Committee, then said terrorism threat in Lithuania was low, nevertheless he urged the security authorities to be ready to collect the information and warn the residents if needed. Endit