Feature: Life in Moscow goes on amid terror threat

Anxiety here has been mounting these last couple of days as has the snow, with concerns about security in Russia growing since Moscow launched its air campaign against targets of the Islamic State (IS) in Syria.

The Kremlin said the air raids, conducted at the request of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in late September, have significantly diminished the combat capability of the terrorist group.

The extremists, in response, reportedly released a Russian-language video clip threatening attacks and bloodshed "in the nearest future" in Russia and Europe last Thursday.

A day after the video provocation, the French capital city of Paris suffered a string of terrorist attacks, killing at least 129 people, with more than 300 injured.

Less than two weeks earlier than that, a Russia-bound A321 airliner crashed in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula shortly after takeoff, killing all 224 people onboard.

The IS has claimed responsibility for both tragedies, acts which captured global attention and again called for strongly coordinated efforts by the international community to fight against terrorism.

As they expressed their sympathy and solidarity with Parisians, Moscow residents have shown they are not intimidated by the terror threat.

A few meters away from the red wall of the Grand Kremlin Palace in the heart of Moscow, a skating area is under construction beside the Tomb of Vladimir Lenin, a traditional winter entertainment on the Red Square. In front of St. Basil's Cathedral, a throng of tourists is listening to a guide talking about the history of the renowned church.

In eastwestern Moscow's Outlet Village, a shopping paradise, crowds of customers are taking advantage of the winter sales.

Galina, who works in a foreign company in Moscow and takes the subway to her office everyday, noticed that there are more policemen and patrol dogs at the metro stations. The police at metro stations and other public places have been asked to wear bulletproof vests. But she said there is no need for security checks.

At theaters where terror attacks are most likely to occur, audiences are now required to put their bags on scanners for inspection. A manager of the Taganka Theatre in downtown Moscow told Xinhua that they can hardly afford a new scanner as the number of theater-goers has been declining in part because of economic hardship.

Some universities with a large number of foreign students have also tightened security measures. In the People's Friendship University of Russia where students are from more than 160 countries and over 450 ethnic groups around the world, newcomers have to live in hotels nearby instead of the provisional dorms on campus before they get their official electronic student cards.

Irina, a gatekeeper, excitedly showed Xinhua her monitor that had been installed on Tuesday, the day Russia declared the plane crash in Egypt a terrorist attack. "Now, the monitor works all night long, and the guards keep their eyes on every screen," she said.

"We have received training courses from the Interior Ministry about how to deal with suspected bombs and sudden armed attacks," she added.

In the meantime, attempted terrorist attacks are occasionally reported in Moscow. On Saturday, more than 1,000 people were evacuated from the Cosmos Hotel due to a bomb threat. On Monday, a man with bombs strapped to his body was seen at the Okhotny Ryad metro station close to the Red Square, which turned out to be a hoax.

"There are some external forces that want to see horror and terror in Russia. There are also some young people spreading false information just for fun," Galina said. Endi