France increases security alert to highest level in southeast France
Xinhua, February 5, 2015 Adjust font size:
France on Wednesday raised its security alert "Vigipirate plan" to the highest level in Alpes-Maritimes department, southeast France, after an attack occurred at a Jewish center in Nice, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said.
"The special situation that the city of Nice is witnessing and because there is always the possibility of mimicry, I have decided to raise Vigipirate plan to the attack level in the Alpes-Maritimes," Valls told lawmakers.
"It's necessary that all means are in place as perhaps there are people complicit with the attacker," he said.
On Tuesday, two French soldiers were injured in a knife attack outside a Jewish community center in the southern French city.
Identified as Moussa Coulibaly, the perpetrator had begun to exhibit "signs of radicalization" at the end of last year. He visited Turkey in January, but was turned back by Turkish authorities, Valls said.
In the face of the high terrorist attack risk that "can occur at any time," the French government reinforced security measures and deployed about 10,000 servicemen to its cities to protect sensitive locations, including major shopping areas, public places, and religious centers. Endit