Geneva on security alert as police hunt ‘four terrorists linked to Paris attacks’

Security is being stepped up in Geneva as police say they are hunting for suspected terrorists linked to the Paris attacks. Extra police were on guard in the Swiss city and the security threat level was raised, officials said. Guards with MP5 sub-machine guns have been stationed at the entry points to the United Nations complex. One of them said the authorities were looking for “four guys”. The alert follows a tip-off on Wednesday over “suspicious individuals susceptible to being in Geneva or the Geneva region.”

The Geneva police, on the basis of this information, have increased their level of vigilance and reinforced the number of police agents on the ground

Statement by Swiss authorities

Geneva is more than 250 miles south-east of Paris, where the attacks on November 13 left 130 dead. Police there have not confirmed the number of suspects, their identities nor if there are any direct links to last month’s killings. However, a Europe-wide manhunt has been launched for Salah Abdeslam, who rented a car which was used to carry gunmen to the Bataclan theatre. Meanwhile, Madonna has staged an impromptu concert at the Republique plaza in Paris to honor victims.  Accompanied by a guitarist, she performed songs including John Lennon’s Imagine — a song that became an unofficial anthem in the aftermath of the attacks.

Im singing some songs in place de la republique. Meet me there now

Madonna tweets to her fans after her concert in Paris