After the terrorist attack on a concert venue near Moscow, France has raised its security alert to the highest level, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced on Sunday.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Attal said the step, which had been taken during a defence and security council meeting called by President Emmanuel Macron, came in light of the terrorist group Islamic Sate claiming responsibility for the attack and the threat to France.
"Given Islamic State claiming responsibility for the attack and the threats hanging over our country, we have decided to raise the raise the Vigipirate posture to its highest level: urgence attentat," Attal said.
France's terror alert has three levels and the highest alert can be set up immediately after an attack or when an identified and unlocalized terrorist group becomes active.
The highest alert level is imposed for a limited period of time during crisis management. It allows for the exceptional mobilization of resources, but also the dissemination of information that can protect citizens in a crisis situation.
Aat least 137 people were killed when several gunmen opened fire on concert-goers at the Crocus City Hall in north-west Moscow on Friday evening.
Eleven suspects, including four men believed to have been directly involved in the attack, have been arrested. The four main suspects were reportedly captured in the Russian region of Bryansk, which borders Ukraine and Belarus, and have been brought to Moscow for questioning.
The Islamic State offshoot Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), based in Afghanistan and Pakistan, has claimed responsibility for the attack but Russian authorities have yet to comment on that claim.
Instead, Russian President Vladimir Putin - without providing evidence - has suggested that there is a "trail" indiciating Ukrainian involvement, accusations that Kiev has swiftly rejected.