France raises terror alert level
France is to raise its domestic terror threat level after military action in Mali and Somalia.
President Francois Hollande promised to increase protection at public buildings and transport networks.
He said today he had ordered increased security after the French military operations in the two African countries against Islamist forces.
France has some of the world’s most recognisable monuments and a wide-ranging national transport network; like the US, it also has an organised government response if there are specific fears of a terrorist attack.
French aircraft and troops are backing soldiers in Mali who are trying to push back Islamist offensives; in Somalia, French commandos launched a failed raid to rescue an intelligence agent held hostage there for three years.
