Geneva raises alert level amid police search after Paris attacks

The search is in “the context of investigations begun following the Paris terror attacks”, the police said on its website Thursday.

The security alert was raised on Thursday and immediately Swiss state prosecutors opened investigations into the suspected criminal plot.

They said they were acting on information of suspicious individuals thought to be in the city or the area.

However, Switzerland’s federal police said they were not connecting the current operation in Geneva to the attacks. It is not clear whether the two were among the six suspects sought by security forces the previous day in connection with the recent Paris attacks.

Police were more broadly increasing security measures, and were working with worldwide and national authorities to locate the suspects, the statement said.

Security in Geneva was increased at the United Nations building, the airport, train stations, the French ambassador’s residence and synagogues.

Sources have told Reuters news agency that the Central Intelligence Agency has provided a photo of four men to authorities that could be on Swiss territory. The headquarters of the World Health Organisation, the United Nations human rights office, the refugee agency UNHCR, the World Trade Organisation and the International Committee of the Red Cross are a short walk away.

The alert level remained unchanged, Swiss authorities said, but various events planned over the weekend will go on.

French police have used state-of-emergency measures put in place after the November 13 attacks in Paris to round up people with suspected links to terrorist cells.

Fares, a French national, is the guy who recruited Foued Mohamed-Aggad, who was identified as the 3rd attacker at the Bataclan theatre in Paris, the source said. Authorities have not said what role he may have played in the attacks. Authorities said he had dropped off one of the bombers who attacked the Stade de France. ISIS has claimed responsibility.