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04/16/2024 05:50:53 am

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China on Heightened Security Alert Following Terrorist Attacks in Paris

China On Heightened Alert After Paris Terrorist Attacks

(Photo : Reuters) China has stepped up security following the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris.

China has stepped up counter terrorism measures following the deadly ISIS attacks in Paris this past Friday night that left about 132 civilians dead and hundreds of other injured.

Public security officials said China is on heightened alert after the Paris massacre. More police officers have reportedly been dispatched to sensitive places across the country such as airports, railway stations, shopping malls, schools and entertainment venues.

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"Police officers should assume their responsibilities to fight terrorism," said Guo Shengkun, China's minister of public security, during a conference with security and counterterrorism officials on Sunday.

Guo said police officers have been deployed to various places in the mainland. Security officials have reportedly been ordered to be on the lookout for guns and other dangerous weapons as well as illegal substances.

Guo said Chinese security staff will attempt to resolve disputes between locals and the police immediately to prevent an escalation of issues that could resilt in extremely violent incidents.

He added that the police will focus on stepping up security patrols, collecting and analyzing intelligence and security data, and will take the necessary steps to foil any possible terror attacks.

ISIS has claimed responsibility for the coordinated attacks in Paris, specifically, at a music theater, restaurants and a soccer stadium.

The terrorists used high-powered guns and suicide vests in their attacks, sowing carnage among innocent civilians.

Guo said attacks in Paris could be a pattern that the terrorists plan to replicate in other countries so China must be on "high alert."

Over the years, China has militarily dealt with local terrorist suspects from Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region who have illegally crossed the borders from China into the nearby neighboring Asian countries like Thailand and Malaysia.

Guo said these terrorist suspects buy fake passports in Turkey and then head to Syria and Iraq where they are given military training before coming back to China to carry out attacks.

"China is facing the same threats from IS as France and must prepare for similar terror attacks, which were well-planned and targeted multiple locations at the same time with different firearms and equipment, resulting in devastation in the target city," said Li Wei, anti-terrorism expert at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations.

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