Slovak Interior Minister Declares Second Level of Terrorism Threat

Interior Minster Robert Kalinak declared a second level of terrorism threat in Slovakia as of Wednesday in connection with Tuesday’s (March 22) attacks in Brussels and the worsened security situation in Europe, TASR learnt from the communications and prevention department of the Slovak Police Corps’ President’s Office on Wednesday.

The department added that Slovakia isn’t confronted with an imminent threat of a terrorist attack at the moment, however.

Kalinak declared the increased level of threat in Slovakia based on the recommendations of an expert group for coordinating the fight against terrorism that was formed by the Security Council’s committee for coordinating intelligence services and the Council of the National Security Analysis Centre.

According to the communications department, the second level of terrorism threat is declared when an attempted or successful crime of terrorism is committed in any EU- or NATO-member state and if there is a likelihood of consequences of such an act for Slovakia and its citizens. “There is a low probability of the occurrence of a crime of terrorism vis-a-vis the Slovak Republic, but it cannot be ruled out completely,” stated the communications department.

A second level of threat should also be declared if the same or even higher degree of terrorism threat is declared in another EU- or NATO-member state.

The Belgian capital was hit by several explosions on Tuesday (March 22). The blasts targeted Zaventem airport and Maelbeek metro station, which is near EU institutions. The attacks claimed the lives of at least 34 people, while around 250 were injured. The Belgian Government has declared the highest degree of security alert.