Security tightened up across Europe
8/7/2005 11:58
Security is being tightened at airports and railway stations across Europe
after explosions attacked London's transport system on Thursday. European
Union Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini is reportedly to have called on
Europe to offer Britain all the help it needed. European Union Justice
Commissioner Franco Frattini called on Europe to offer the UK all the help it
needed. . Hours after the attacks, Belgian authorities met to discuss
security measures in Brussels, also home to a number of EU institutions and
NATO, according to British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Belgian Prime
Minister Guy Verhofstadt later said there was no evidence that Belgium was at a
higher risk, but extra security precautions would be taken on trains and subway
stations and at border checkpoints, airports and seaports. Spain, the target
of terror attacks which killed 191 people in Madrid on 11 March last year,
raised its security standing to the highest level. This level of alert
involves the mobilization of the security forces to keep watch and protect
places with large amounts of people as well as strategic sites needed for normal
citizen activity, the interior ministry said. French Prime Minister Dominique
de Villepin announced France's step up to red alert - the second-highest level
of security. Security is especially tight for rail passengers travelling
between Paris and London. Eurostar trains are still running but the company has
advised people not to travel to London. Italian Interior Minister Giuseppe
Pisanu told the Senate, "The level of alert has been raised in Italy as in all
the other European countries." Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said
security would be stepped up at the Dutch borders and around British sites in
the Netherlands. Other countries paid tribute to the victims of the
attacks. Russia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania are also said to
have raised their security levels.
Xinhua news
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