“The level of terrorism preparedness in Hungary will not be increased following the terrorist attack in Manchester, but the security of certain events will be handled as a priority”, the Minister of Interior told reporters following his annual report to Parliament’s National Security Committee.

As examples, Sándor Pintér mentioned the 2017 FINA World Aquatics Championships, the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix and the Sziget music festival. He likened the audience of the latter to that of Monday evening’s concern in Manchester, which was the target of a terrorist attack.

At Thursday’s session of the National Security Committee, Mr. Pintér had originally intended to put forward his usual report within the framework of an open session, according to the originally planned agenda, but a closed session was ordered immediately at the start of the session at the request of Committee Chair Zsolt Molnár.

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Following the closed session, the Minister told the press that he had reported to the Committee on the annual activities of the Ministry of Interior, adding that the National Security Committee was one of Parliament’s most active committees and highlighting the fact that cooperation between the body and the Ministry was good.

The National Security Committee had accepted his report and had put forward a recommendation with regard to the required direction of Ministry of Interior activities within the fields of anti-terrorism, counter-intelligence and IT development. Mr. Pintér said technical developments were an important target, as was the field of anti-terrorism.

“The Manchester attack also confirms that the terrorist threat in Europe has not diminished, but has increased”, he told reporters, adding that Hungary was however in a lucky situation thanks the fact that the reduction of illegal migration means fewer people who are capable of committing such acts are able to enter the country.

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“There is no reason to increase the level of terrorism preparedness in Hungary; the medium level will remain in effect”, Mr. Pintér announced.

On Monday evening, 22 year-old Salman Abedi, who was of Libyan decent but was born and raised in Britain, detonated a bomb in the foyer of the Manchester Arena at the end of a concert by American singer Ariana Grande. 22 people lost their lives and around sixty were injured in the suicide attack. On Tuesday, Great Britain increased its terrorist threat level to its maximum level of “critical”.

(MTI)