France has introduced an extraordinary level of terrorist threat after the terrorist attack in Moscow

France has raised the terrorist threat level to the maximum. This decision was made by President Emmanuel Macron during a meeting of the National Security and Defence Council on 24 March.

Source. This was reported by RFI.

France decided to raise the terrorist threat level to the maximum – an "extraordinary attack" – after the 22 March terrorist attack in Moscow's Crocus City Hall.

According to French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, Paris is raising the terrorist threat level also because the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the events in Russia.

"Given that the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack and the threats facing our country, we have decided to raise the Vigipirate's position to the highest level: emergency," he wrote on Twitter.

The implementation of this plan is based on three main principles. The first is the assessment of the terrorist threat in France and to its citizens abroad. Vigipirate identifies vulnerabilities in potential targets of terrorist attacks and takes measures to reduce risks. According to the French government, another principle is to define a security system that matches the level of risk.

And there are three levels: enhanced "vigilance", "enhanced security – risk of attack", and the highest – "extraordinary attack". While Vigipirate involves a total of about 300 security measures, at the first level of danger, about 100 permanent and active measures are implemented.

During the "enhanced security – risk of attack" level, a high or even very high terrorist threat is usually involved. In addition to the previous measures, additional ones are taken, depending on where the threat is identified: at the airport, on the railway, in the city. This level of threat can extend to the entire country.

But the Vigipirate emergency level is introduced either immediately after a terrorist attack or "if an identified and unidentified terrorist group takes action."

"This level is set for a limited period – for the duration of the crisis management. In particular, it allows for exceptional mobilisation of resources, as well as the dissemination of information that can protect citizens in a crisis situation," the French government said.

The highest level of terrorist threat is needed to prevent a terrorist attack, mobilise resources, and disseminate information to the public that can protect and save lives. People's personal belongings may also be checked at the entrances to certain buildings.

The "extraordinary attack" level was first used in December 2018 after the attack on the Christmas market in Strasbourg, and it lasted 72 hours.

According to BFMTV, the last time the threat level was declared extraordinary in France was after the murder and beheading of a professor in the city of Arras. He was attacked in his college by a former student, Mohammed Mogushkov, a native of Ingushetia who came to France at the age of five.