Police officers work at the Spanish Square in Rome, Italy, March 24, 2024. Italy's Ministry of the Interior said on Saturday that it has ordered the security level at "sensitive" sites to be raised in Rome and other cities, including airports, train stations, as well as key cultural and religious sites. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
France, Italy, the United Kingdom and Denmark are maintaining high-security alerts as they brace for the Easter holidays.
ROME, March 26 (Xinhua) -- European countries including Italy are stepping up security in the wake of the recent terrorist attack that killed over 130 people in Moscow.
On Monday, after a meeting concerning public order and security, the country's interior ministry ordered police forces to intensify surveillance activities.
While the security threat level in Italy had already been raised to the maximum in the immediate aftermath of the Moscow terrorist attack on Friday night, the latest measures are focused on boosting safety over Easter.
This photo taken on March 25, 2024 shows the Trajan's Forum in Rome, Italy. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
At least 10.5 million Italians are expected to travel over the Easter holidays, from March 29 to April 1, according to a survey by Italy's hotel and tourism association Federalberghi.
Many foreign tourists will also visit Italy during this period. Last year, the number of tourists in Italy was estimated at 3.3 million during the Easter holidays.
Particular attention will be paid to places "with the largest gatherings and transit of people, as well as to all sensitive targets," such as airports, train stations, and cultural and religious sites, the interior ministry said.
Italian soldiers stand guard in front of the Arch of Constantine in Rome, Italy, March 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
Italian security and intelligence forces were also urged to continue "carefully monitoring activity on the web ... to identify any risky situations."
Similar measures were also announced in France on Sunday. According to a post by French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal on the social platform "X," a Defense and National Security Council was convened at the Elysee following the attack in Moscow.
"In light of ISIS's alleged attack and the threat to our country, we have decided to elevate the Vigipirate status to the highest level: attack emergency," Attal added.
Policemen work near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, on March 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
France's decision came just a few months ahead of the Paris Olympic Games due in July. Vigipirate is the key tool in France's anti-terrorism system and involves both public and private entities in security efforts.
In Denmark, the security alert was raised last week due to an increased terrorism threat. The threat level will now remain at maximum.
In the United Kingdom, the current national threat level stands at "substantial" or mid-level, the third highest in the country's five-tier system.
Armed French soldiers patrol at the Trocadero place near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, on March 25, 2024. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) ■
