In a decisive move to fortify security, Italy has joined France in ramping up its protective measures in the wake of a harrowing attack on a concert hall in the suburbs of Moscow, an act for which an affiliate of the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility. This incident has reignited concerns across Europe regarding the threat posed by extremists, especially the Central Asian affiliate, as the continent prepares for major upcoming events, including the Paris Olympics and the European Championship in Germany.
France escalated its security alert to the highest level on Sunday, demonstrating the seriousness with which it views the potential threat. Similarly, Italy convened a national security council meeting on Monday, which concluded with a decision to enhance security measures around the Holy Week celebrations leading up to Easter. The Italian Interior Ministry announced that both surveillance and checks would be intensified, with a particular focus on areas that typically see large gatherings of people and sensitive sites. This decision comes at a time when Pope Francis is scheduled to attend several significant events in Rome and at the Vatican in the days leading up to Easter Sunday.
In Germany, despite the heightened alert, the Interior Ministry’s spokesperson, Cornelius Funke, stated that the threat level from Islamic extremists remains severe, though the risk assessment has not been altered in light of the Moscow attack.
Meanwhile, in Serbia, the presence of secret police officers armed with machine guns patrolling the streets of Belgrade was a stark reminder of the ongoing concerns over security. President Aleksandar Vucic explained that these officers, along with plainclothes police, would be monitoring sports venues and shopping malls in the capital. However, this move has faced criticism from Vucic’s opponents, who argue that it is unnecessary and serves only to instill fear among the populace.
The Islamic State group affiliate, known variably as ISIS-K, IS-K, or ISPK, has officially taken responsibility for the Moscow concert hall attack, a claim that has been verified by U.S. and other Western officials. This group has been notably active in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, including orchestrating a devastating suicide bombing at Kabul airport in August 2021, which resulted in the deaths of 13 American troops and approximately 170 Afghans during the tumultuous U.S. withdrawal. Furthermore, it claimed responsibility for a bomb attack in Kerman, Iran, in January, which tragically claimed the lives of 95 people at a memorial procession.
The threat from IS-K has not gone unnoticed in Europe. According to Cornelius Funke of the German Interior Ministry, IS-K is currently considered the most aggressive IS affiliate. German authorities have linked this group to three alleged plots since July, including a plan that led to increased security at Cologne Cathedral over Christmas and, most recently, the arrest of two Afghan men last week. These men are accused of plotting an attack near the Swedish parliament in retaliation for the burning of copies of the Quran, the Muslim holy book.
French President Emmanuel Macron has indicated that intelligence points to an IS entity being behind the Moscow attack and suggests the group’s involvement in several attempted attacks in France in recent months. While not naming IS-K specifically, Macron highlighted this intelligence as the rationale behind France’s decision to elevate its security alert level as a precautionary measure.
This report was contributed to by Associated Press writers Colleen Barry in Milan, Sylvie Corbet in Paris, and Dusan Stojanovic in Belgrade, Serbia.