LONDON, January 8 (Sputnik) – The United Kingdom has increased security at the British-French border in light of the Wednesday attack on the Paris-based Charlie Hebdo magazine, UK Home Secretary Theresa May said Thursday.
"Following the attacks, we took the precautionary step yesterday of increasing security at the French/UK border," May told journalists after a COBRA emergency committee meeting.
She added that the threat level in the country remained at "severe" urging the public to stay vigilant as a terrorist attack was "highly likely".
"People from all faiths and walks of life have expressed their disgust at the events that took place in Paris. I want to reiterate our commitment to standing with the French people against terror," the home secretary said.
On Wednesday, three men attacked the office of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris, killing 12 people and injuring 11. Seven suspects have been arrested so far, with a nationwide manhunt for two gunmen still underway. One of the perpetrators earlier handed himself over to the police, claiming to possess an alibi.
The Charlie Hebdo magazine had received threats from radical Islamists in the past over the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. Prior to Wednesday’s attack, the magazine posted a cartoon on Twitter depicting the leader of the Islamic State militant group Abu Bakr Baghdadi.
