TIRANA, March 23 – Albania’s highest authorities have condemned the Brussels terrorist attacks and stepped up security at the country’s sole international airport and ports following Tuesday’s deadly attacks which killed at least 30 and injured dozens at the heart of Europe.
Speaking during an official visit to France, President Bujar Nishani expressed solidarity with the Belgian people and authorities, condemning the barbaric acts. “We will stand united and tough to handle this threat and barbaric acts which do not represent values such as religious coexistence, harmony and respect,” the President said in a meeting with the Council of Europe Secretary General, Thorbjorn Jagland.
Prime Minister Edi Rama said Europe will stand up to win this new battle with terrorism. “The bombs breeding death for the innocent at the heart of Europe will make Europe stand up to win this new battle on behalf of freedom,” Rama wrote on social networks.
Parliament Speaker Ilir Meta described the terrorist attacks as an attack against the whole Europe and humanity. “Albania stands by its Euro-Atlantic partners to uproot the terrorist cells,” said Meta in his message.
Opposition Democratic Party leader Lulzim Basha who is on an official visit to the United States also expressed solidarity. “The attacks are testimony to the blind and irreligious inhuman hatred bred and motivated by terrorism,” wrote Basha.
The Albanian Muslim Community also condemned the terrorist attacks, saying that terror has no religion.
“Terror has no relationship to religion, especially Islam,” said Skender Bruà§aj, the head of the Albanian Muslim Community.
Immediately after the Tuesday morning attacks, local police in Albania reacted by tightening security measures at the Tirana international airport and several key ports.
Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri said the police had stepped up its security level following the Brussels attacks.
“Security measures have strengthened. Albania cannot be immune or neglect any signal despite its distance to the country. The State Police has stepped up the security level and we are exchanging information with partners, law-enforcing agencies and the intelligence service to handle every potential situation. This is a war which continues and which no country can handle on its own,” said Tahiri.
Some 100 Albanian fighters have joined ISIS in the past few years, posing a threat to the country’s national security by threatening to revenge against Albania which is part of the anti-Islamic State coalition.
The Albanian embassy in Brussels said there had been no Albanian casualties as of Tuesday noon.
At least 30 people have been killed and dozens more wounded in terrorist attacks at the Brussels International airport and a metro station in Belgian capital.
The attacks come four days after Salah Abdeslam, the main fugitive in the Paris attacks, was arrested in Brussels. Abdeslam, who had turned into Europe’s most wanted man, is believed to have been directly involved in the attacks that killed 130 people in and around Paris last November.
