Prague, March 22 (CTK) – The Czech government approved the declaration of the first degree of threat by terrorism at its special meeting on Tuesday, with the deployment of up to 550 soldiers to protect security for two months, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka (Social Democrats, CSSD) has told journalists.
The government reacted to the Brussels terrorist attacks from Tuesday. Sobotka said earlier on Tuesday the Czech Republic was not immediately threatened.
“At the moment, the first degree of terrorism threat is definitively valid with the government consent,” Sobotka said.
The ministers have thus confirmed an earlier decision by Interior Minister Milan Chovanec (CSSD).
The government has also approved the decree thanks to which up to 550 soldiers can be called up to help the police for two months.
The soldiers will take part in special security measures, relating to international airports, nuclear plants, some embassies and the Prague metro.
The government meeting took place in the presence of the police president and head of the Security Information Service who briefed the ministers about the latest security situation and passed measures.
The first degree of terrorism alert warns of the existence of an open terrorism threat.
Sobotka said the security measures included a massive deployment of the police and military along with more intensive work of security services.
