Portugal will not increase the level of terrorist threat despite several European countries doing so

It should be remembered that, in recent days, several European countries decided to raise the level of alert, following the terrorist attack claimed by ISIS-K, in Moscow, where 137 people died

The Internal Security System (SSI) decided not to increase the alert level for terrorist threats in Portugal, considering that the current threat assessment is adequate, even taking into account that several European countries are doing so, after the attack claimed by the State Islamist in Moscow, and which killed more than 130 people.

“Having consulted the competent services, it is considered that this is the appropriate level, and there is, at the moment, no intention to aggravate or alleviate this level, despite the news that is arriving from other European countries, which live in different threat contexts. of ours”, a source from the secretary general of the SSI.

In October 2023, shortly after the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel, Portugal decided to increase the terrorist threat level from “moderate” level 4 to “significant” level 3, following an assessment by the Security Intelligence Service. This assessment has remained unchanged since then.

The Secretary General of the SSI says he is “closely monitoring developments” and does not rule out taking additional security measures in certain public places, however, it refers these decisions to the Public Security Police, which is “the competent security force in this matter”.

It should be remembered that, in recent days, several European countries decided to raise the level of alert, following the terrorist attack claimed by ISIS-K, in Moscow, where 137 people died.

France decided to increase the alert level to the highest level, after a meeting at the Élysée, between the French Security Council, the executive and President Emmanuel Macron. The decision requires the country to increase the number of security agents on the streets, increase the number of patrols and allows the use of military units to monitor areas with large crowds, such as airports, train stations or places of religious worship.

“This specific group, believed to be involved in this attack, has carried out several attempts on our soil in recent months,” Macron admitted.

Hours later, Italy took the same decision and began increasing security in the country, after a meeting of the national Security Council. The Italian Minister of Internal Affairs stressed that the measure is particularly urgent as Holy Week approaches and large numbers of visitors are expected in Rome and the Vatican.

In Germany, Interior Ministry spokesman Cornelius Funke said the threat from Islamic extremists “remains serious” but authorities’ risk assessment remains unchanged.