China sounds nationwide security alert after Paris attacks

Beijing: China on Sunday sounded a nationwide alert and ordered its internal security forces to boost their intelligence gathering efforts to thwart any terrorist attack, a day after a wave of terror strikes in Paris killed more than 120 people.

Guo Shengkun, head of national anti-terrorism group and China's police chief, called for heightened alert and prevention of terrorism following yesterday's Paris attacks.

At a televised meeting jointly held by the leading group and the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), Guo asked all departments and localities to boost preparedness, intelligence and early warning against terrorism to ensure public security.

Attendees of the meeting were shared information related to the Paris attacks, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Chinese security forces have been on alert for about an year now following a series of attacks by militants of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement -- an al-Qaeda linked militant group active among Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region which has been restive over the increasing settlements of Hans from mainland China.

Xinjiang and several other Chinese provinces, as also the national capital Beijing, have witnessed violent attacks in the past that caused heavy casualties. China has also asked its nationals in France to remain on alert after the wave of attacks in Paris yesterday killed more than 120 people.

Guo asked officials at all levels to be aware of the daunting and complicated nature of the anti-terror battle, and to never take chances with people's safety and secuirty. He urged for particular focus on important venues for preventive measures, reinforcing patrols and security checks.

He stressed for strict management of guns, explosives and mail, as well as timely conflict resolution among the public to prevent violence and extremism. Greater efforts will be made to collect and analyse anti-terror intelligence, Guo said. He stressed the importance of public role in the "people's war on terror" and maintaining a heavy-handed crackdown on terrorist activities.

Officials from the national anti-terrorism leading group, the MPS, the armed forces, and regional anti-terrorism leading groups attended the meeting.