Italy follows France in raising security levels after ISIS attack in Russia

(Patria) - Italy on Monday followed France in stepping up security after an attack on a concert hall in the Moscow suburbs and an Islamic State claim of responsibility, reported AP.

The attack has renewed attention in Europe on the risk of extremists, particularly from Central Asian affiliates, as the continent prepares for major events such as the Paris Olympics and the European Football Championship in Germany.

France raised its security alert to its highest level on Sunday. In Italy, a National Security Council meeting on Monday resulted in a decision to increase security around Holy Week commemorations ahead of Easter this weekend.

Responsibility for the Moscow attack was claimed by an affiliate of the Islamic State group known as ISIS-K, IS-K or ISPK, a claim that has been corroborated by U.S. and other Western officials.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris had intelligence that ISIS was responsible for the Moscow attack and that the group was believed to have been involved in several attempted attacks in France in recent months. He did not specifically name IS-K but said during a trip to French Guiana that this was why France had raised its security alert as a “precautionary measure”.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said 4,000 soldiers were ready to be deployed in addition to the 3,000 soldiers already patrolling across the country at train stations and near sites such as schools, places of worship and concert halls.