Following a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and senior defense and security officials on March 24, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced that the government was raising the security alert to the highest level following the Moscow attack, according to AFP.
French soldiers patrol the Eiffel Tower in 2015.
"Given the claim of responsibility by the Islamic State (IS) and the threats to the country, we have decided to raise the status of the Vigipirate to the highest level: urgent attack," Prime Minister Attal said, referring to France's national security alert system.
The system has three levels, with the highest level activated when there is an imminent threat of an attack in France or abroad. When this level is activated, special security measures such as increased military patrols in public places including train stations, airports and places of worship are put in place.
The decision comes as Paris prepares to host the Olympics in a few months. Security concerns are expected to be heightened around the opening ceremony of the Games on July 26, when boats will sail along the Seine and crowds will line the banks.
France has suffered several deadly terrorist attacks in the past, including the 2015 attack on the Bataclan theater in Paris that killed more than 130 people.
IS has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Crocus City Hall theater in Moscow on March 22, which killed 137 people and injured 180. According to TASS, 11 people involved have been arrested, including four gunmen. In a court hearing on March 24, two people were charged with terrorism, including a Tajik national named Dalerdjon Mirzoyev.
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