Geneva alert not linked to Paris attacks

The extremist group claimed the attacks that killed 130 people in Paris last month but the individuals were not believed to have any direct link to those atrocities.

Whatever the nature of that threat, it was likely more well developed than any possible danger for Chicago or Toronto, said CNN National Security Analyst Juliette Kayyem.

Meanwhile, top officials from Europe and the U.S., including U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, met in London Thursday where they agreed to closer cooperation in the fight against the Islamic State.

The wanted persons could stay in Geneva or in the region, the police authority announced.

Heavily armed police carrying submachine guns stood guard outside diplomatic missions Thursday in Geneva.

Brian Montague, a VPD spokesman, said the department worked closely with national and global police agencies, but added that he was not aware of any specific threats related to Vancouver.

The official also confirmed the suspects were four men shown in a photograph linked to a news report in the Swiss daily Le Matin. Normally, officers carry lighter weapons.

United States has also warned Switzerland about the presence of Salah Abdeslam, a suspect in Paris attack, in their country.

A Swiss federal police spokeswoman on Thursday said authorities had informed the Geneva police about people with possible “links to terrorism”, prompting the search.

Police were “actively looking” for these individuals “in the context of the investigation following the Paris attacks”, the statement said, while reinforcements were deployed at key locations including United Nations buildings.

Geneva’s airport hasn’t put any additional security measures in place, though officials will be meeting with the police Thursday afternoon, spokesman Bertrand Staempfli said by phone. Several arrests were made in Belgium after the attacks.

Geneva remains on high alert as the police hunt for suspected Daesh terrorists continues, the Local Switzerland reported.

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