Security beefed up across Europe following attacks in Paris

Soldiers and paramilitary troops with semi-automatic rifles patrolled outside the Colosseum and inside St Peter’s Square as Italy joined the rest of Europe in beefing up security after the Paris terrorist attacks.

For decades, Europe has been mostly free of land-based border checks, but the attacks prompted officials in countries from Belgium to Hungary to reimpose spot inspections of vehicles.

In southern Germany, Bavarian finance minister Markus Soeder insisted the country needs to know who is entering, and criticised European borderless travel.

“The days of unchecked immigration and illegal entry can’t continue,” he told the Welt am Sonntag weekly newspaper. “Paris changes everything.” And if Germany cannot secure its borders, then Bavaria can take on this task.”

Soeder spoke as Bavarian officials confirmed firearms, explosives, and hand grenades were found when undercover police stopped a man near the German-Austrian border on November 5. Authorities declined to confirm reports the man appeared to be en route to Paris, but said there were “reasonable grounds” to assume that there may be a link to the attacks in the French capital.

Following a request from France, Germany ramped up border controls, focusing on road, rail, and air traffic, interior minister Thomas de Maiziere said.

London put in place high-visibility patrols at key locations to reassure citizens, with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe stressing the “scale of the attacks and the range of weaponry used by the terrorists are a serious cause for concern”.

Britain and Spain did not raise terror threat levels, but Italy hiked its own to the second highest possible, allowing for rapid deployment of special forces if necessary. Nordic nations such as Denmark sent officers with semi-automatic weapons to patrol outside foreign embassies.

The French Football Federation said France’s friendly match against England in London tomorrow will still take place despite major safety concerns. France beat Germany 2-0 on Friday at Stade de France in a game overshadowed by the attacks. Two explosions went off outside the stadium.

Finnish police said they were increasing surveillance in airports and harbours. Romania announced that French institutions there had cancelled cultural events and a French cinema closed until December 18.

12 inspiring images of peace from the aftermath of the Paris attacks https://t.co/mVVFdtz4QF pic.twitter.com/r8FgntcrxL

— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) November 15, 2015

Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party postponed a congress yesterday to elect new leadership, and prime minister Viktor Orban said police would carry extra firepower while stepping up patrols at airports and the country’s nuclear power plant.

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte told reporters in The Hague that his administration will take “visible and invisible” measures to increase security, including stiffer border controls.

France’s interior minister has authorised local authorities to impose curfews if needed. Bernard Cazeneuve said in a televised address authorities are also banning all public demonstrations until Thursday.

In Poland, Konrad Szymanski, prospective minister for European affairs, said that, in light of the attacks, Poland cannot go ahead with EU decisions on immigration and accept refugees without guarantees of security.