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Paris Region to Remain on Highest Terror Alert Level: Interior Minister

© REUTERS / Patrick Kovarik/Pool French President Francois Hollande (L) holds a crisis meeting with Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve (R) and French prefects at the Interior Ministry in Paris
French President Francois Hollande (L) holds a crisis meeting with Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve (R) and French prefects at the Interior Ministry in Paris - Sputnik International
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The maximum level of vigilance will be maintained further, as risks have not been eliminated yet, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve says after a meeting in the president's residence.

French President Francois Hollande addresses the nation at the Elysee Palace in Paris January 9, 2015 - Sputnik International
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PARIS, January 10 (Sputnik) — French authorities decided to maintain the highest terror alert level in the region of Ile-de-France for several more weeks, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said on Saturday.

Cazeneuve's statement came following a string of terrorist attacks and hostage crises, which saw 17 people and three gunmen killed since Wednesday.

"We will maintain the high level of vigilance. We are exposed to risks," Cazeneuve said after a government meeting in the French President's residence, as quoted by Le Figaro newspaper. He added that the high level of terror alert will be maintained for several weeks.

After the office of Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine in Paris was attacked by alleged Islamic extremists on Wednesday, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls ordered to raise the terror alert in the Paris region of Ile-de-France to the maximum level.

French riot police patrol in central Paris as part of the highest level of Vigipirate security plan after a shooting at the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo January 9, 2015. - Sputnik International
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Cazeneuve also stressed that the authorities will provide the highest level of security during the march in memory of the victims of this week's terrorist attacks, due to be held in the French capital on Sunday. Around 1 million people, including the leaders of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and a number of other nations, are expected to take part in the demonstration.

On Wednesday morning, two gunmen burst into the editorial office of Charlie Hebdo magazine, known for issuing cartoons, ridiculing Islam. The attackers, later identified as brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi, killed 12 people and injured 11, and escaped from the scene. Following two days of nationwide manhunt, the suspects were killed on Friday by French police some 20 miles northeast of Paris.

Gunmen flee after shooting a wounded police officer (L) on the ground at point-blank range, outside the offices of French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris - Sputnik International
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On Thursday, a lone shooter killed a female police officer in Paris' southern suburb of Montrouge. The police reportedly said there was a connection between the two attacks.

On Friday, the Montrouge shooter, identified as Amedy Coulibaly, took several people hostage in a kosher food shop in eastern Paris. He shot dead four hostages before being killed in a police assault.

French police are currently hunting for Coulibaly's alleged accomplice, his former partner Hayat Boumeddiene.

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