Switzerland raises security alert over IS-cell threat

PanARMENIAN.Net - A raised security alert in the Swiss city of Geneva was triggered by a warning that a cell of so-called Islamic State (IS) was in the area, the country's President says, according to BBC News.

Simonetta Sommaruga said a "foreign authority" provided the information, but did not disclose which one. She said there was no indication that an attack was planned.

Geneva police have said the raised alert is linked to the Europe-wide investigation into the Paris attacks.

However, Switzerland's federal police said they were not connecting the current operation in Geneva to the attacks.

"The Swiss government received information from a foreign authority regarding a potential IS cell in the Geneva area," Ms Sommaruga told a news conference.

"Federal authorities examined this information and shared it with the local police. There is currently no indication that there was a concrete attack planned."

Reports in Swiss media said the intelligence had originally come from the United States.

Daily newspaper Le Temps, quoting a source close to the investigation, said U.S. intelligence had identified three jihadist cells in Chicago, Toronto and Geneva.