France Steps up Counter-Terrorism Effort

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls attends a news conference to unveil new security measures ahead of a defence council at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, 21 January 2015. Photo EPA/BGNES

France will implement ''exceptional'' measures to reinforce its counter-terrorism efforts, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Wednesday following armed attacks by Islamic militants in Paris earlier this month.

In the process, Valls said 2,680 new security-related jobs will be created over three years, including 1,100 mostly in police counter-terrorism intelligence. Valls also said that better equipment will be provided to security forces, including weapons and bullet-proof vests.

In addition to increasing the police force responsible for fighting terrorism, the French government will also spare 7,500 defence posts earmarked for cutting. The change to initial plans to cut defence posts by a total of 25,800 over five years was unveiled by President Francois Hollande  

The French government has deployed around 10,000 troops across the country with the purpose of protecting civilians in public areas, specifically around schools, synagogues and mosques.

Valls also said police needed to monitor about 3,000 people, including about 1,300 currently residing in France and suspected of links to jihadist networks operating in Syria and Iraq.

A series of other measures were also announced by Valls, including sixty additional Muslim clerics to be recruited to work in prisons, special sanctions for extremist detainees and an internet site to inform the public about ways of preventing radicalization of young Muslims.

 

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