VENTIMIGLIA – Further reinforcements have been made to controlling forces on the French-Italian border at Ventimiglia by the Ludovico and St Louis bridges after the Nice lorry attack, police said on Friday. The police have been joined by the army, the paramilitary police and the Battalion teams.

 “We have been alerted that fugitives may have come directly into Italy, but for now nothing is confirmed” reported a police officer. French controls have also joined forces, with French national police and security teams assisting Italian authorities at the border.

 Following the attack, on Friday morning, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi took part in a meeting with the Undersecretary of the State Marco Minniti, along with members of the intelligence services.

 “Concerns are high” for the risk of terrorism in Italy, but “the work we are doing to prevent it is extremely serious,” the Italian Minister of Defence, Roberta Pinotti, reported to Uno Mattina. “Today, 7,000 members of the military are controlling the most important sites around Italy,” explained Pinotti, emphasising the preventative measures taken by the intelligence services as well as the work of armed forces abroad. She added that the path the Italian government is taking to combat terrorism is the only possible way, and that they can do nothing differently.

 The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised compatriots who are in Nice to “avoid movement and to follow the instructions given by local authorities.” This announcement has been published on the safe travel website ‘Viaggiare Sicuri’, which also specifies that, in emergency situations, the General Italian Consulate in Nice can be contacted by telephone. The French authorities have also activated a special contact number which can be used for asking for information and instructions.

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