The Italian government has decided to raise its security alert level in response to the recent attack on a concert hall near Moscow, for which an affiliate of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility.
This decision came during a national security council meeting held in Rome, Italy on Monday.
Heightened security measures are being planned for various events scheduled this week, particularly in anticipation of the Christian Easter religious holiday over the upcoming weekend.
Pope Francis is expected to participate in a series of events both in Rome and at the Vatican in the lead-up to Easter Sunday.
Italy’s Interior Ministry announced that surveillance and security checks will be intensified, with a focus on densely populated areas and key locations deemed sensitive.
France had previously taken similar action on Sunday, citing the plausible claim of responsibility by the Afghan branch of the Islamic State (ISIS-K) for the Moscow attack.
French President Emmanuel Macron noted that the same group had attempted several actions within France.
The recent attack has refocused attention in Europe on the ongoing threat posed by extremists, especially as the continent prepares for major events such as the Paris Olympics and the European Championship in Germany.
Despite the heightened concerns, Germany’s Interior Ministry spokesperson Cornelius Funke stated that the threat level from Islamic extremists remains unchanged following the Moscow attack, emphasizing that the risk assessment has not been altered as a result of this incident.
