France has elevated its security alert status to its highest level following a fatal attack at a concert hall in Russia and the Islamic State’s claim of responsibility.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal made the announcement in a statement on X, stating that authorities are considering the Islamic State’s assertion of involvement in the Moscow incident and the perceived threats to France.

The decision was prompted by an emergency security meeting convened by President Emmanuel Macron in response to the attack in a Moscow suburb on Friday, which resulted in the deaths of over 130 individuals. An affiliate of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the assault.

France has experienced multiple deadly attacks attributed to ISIS, notably the Bataclan theater massacre in 2015, during which extremists launched a gunfire attack on concert attendees and held hostages for an extended period.

Additionally, French military forces have engaged in operations against Islamic extremist groups in regions such as the Middle East and Africa.

Prior to these events, France had already heightened its security measures in anticipation of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics scheduled for this year, expected to attract millions of visitors to the country.

Of particular concern will be the opening ceremony set for July 26th, characterised by a unique display involving boat processions along the Seine River and large crowds gathering along the embankments.

Main Image: By Domenjod – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47756686

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