LONDON // Europe is beefing up security over the festive period after the shooting of the Russian ambassador and the attack on a Christmas market in Berlin.
In London, the Metropolitan Police said it was considering "a range of threats, including the use of large vehicles." A statement from police headquarters at Scotland Yard said, " As a matter of routine, as a precaution, we review our plans after attacks overseas, and we are doing so at present following the awful incidents in Berlin and Ankara last night."
The Czech prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka said the police presence will be "massive" during the Christmas holidays, on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day at popular gathering places across the country and checks on the border with Germany might be reintroduced.
In France, politicians observed a minute's silence in memory of the Berlin victims who died in an attack with disturbing similarities to the one in Nice, in which a lorry rammed into crowds celebrating the French national day on July 14.
Prime minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the French and German authorities have worked closely for months to help improve security in both countries following the deadly attacks by extremists last year in Paris and this year in Nice, and vowed to fight terrorism "without truce or pause."
Italy is strengthening security measures for areas where crowds are expected for Christmas ceremonies, such as the Pope's appearance in St. Peter's Square. Interior minister Marco Minniti led a meeting on Tuesday of the heads of Italy's police and intelligence forces to review security. Though no specific hotspots were named, Extremists have long regarded the Vatican, a seat of Christianity, as a logical target. Pope Francis sent a condolence telegram to the archbishop of Berlin and urged all people "of good will" to fight " the murderous folly of terrorism."
Danish and Norwegian police have increased their presence at Christmas markets in their respective capitals, Copenhagen and Oslo, following the deadly attack in Berlin. The prime minister of Finland, Juha Sipala, said Monday's attack that killed at least 12 people "was (an) evening of absolutely shocking news and senseless violence."
It emerged on Tuesday that the body found in the passenger seat in the lorry in the Berlin attack was that of Lukasz Urban, 36, who worked for the Polish company which owned the vehicle. Urban was stabbed and shot in the cabin of his lorry. His employer, Ariel Zurawski was asked to identify the body. " It was really clear he was fighting for his life," he said. The Polish prime minister Beata Szydlo said, "It is with pain and sadness we received the information that the first victim of this heinous act of violence was a Polish citizen." The attack in Berlin was a reminder that "Europe must become unified in the fight against terrorism and Europe must take effective action to protect its citizens."
Beyond Europe, Pakistan's prime minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed his grief over the deaths in the attack on a Christmas market in Berlin, saying "terrorism is our common enemy and the world needs to put up a joint fight against this menace." Sharif says Pakistan will continue to take steps to eliminate terrorism, as his country also has been a victim.
Police detained a 23-year-old asylum seeker from Pakistan shortly after Monday's attack, but later released him for lack of evidence.
* Associated Press
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