TIRANA, Nov. 19 – Albania has increased its security efforts following the attacks on Paris, with police increasing its presence in areas considered of particular risk.
These include places where a lot of people congregate, embassies and main roads, according to a statement by the national police.
After the Paris attacks, Albanian police have increased readiness, said a police spokesman, Gentian Mullai.
“Police have prepared a concrete plan for identifying and monitoring all suspect elements,” noted the police statement. Authorities are closely monitoring suspects who could have “terror tendencies,” the statement added.
Police said it was also keeping a close at border crossings.
Authorities said they are working in cooperation with international partners to identify and thwart any potential attack.
“We also call on citizens to cooperate … and not hesitate to call with any concern or problem, assuring for a quick and timely response,” the police statement added.
Albanian Justice Minister Ylli Manjani said Thuesday terrorism is a global issue, but it must also not be underestimated locally.
“Albania is part of the global war on terror and could be a target of attacks, Manjani said. “This is not to scare people, but for them to live life normally with an increased awareness.”
– Threatening email to interior minister
The increase in security came after media reports that the interior minister had received a threat using Islamic language by a group calling itself “the Red Brigades.”
Minister Saimir Tahiri received an email message Saturday, the day after the Paris attacks.
Tahiri’s office said Albania’s anti-terror department has launched a probe into the matter. More than a dozen persons were questioned on the email.
– Risk to Albania seen as rising
A NATO member, Albania is among the countries that joined the international coalition in the war against terrorism in its early day.
Tirana has strongly denounced the terrorist acts and has said it is “deeply committed alongside its allies in the fight against terrorism.”
Albania has a long history of religious tolerance between its Muslim and Christian communities, and religious extremism is extremely rare among the 59 percent of the country’s population, which self-declared as Muslim in the 2011 census.
A few Albanians are, however, believed to be fighting in Syria, despite mainstream religious leaders’ calls for them to not join rebel groups.
Nine Albanian Muslims, including two preachers, are currently in jail and on trial for recruiting for Syrian rebels.
