Increased internet surveillance and tighter border checks are "urgently" needed to foil jihadist attacks of the sort that rocked Paris this week, European, US and Canadian security ministers say.
Special forces launch an assault at a kosher supermarket in Porte de Vincennes, eastern Paris, where four hostages and the gunman were killed. Photo: AFP
The gathering of interior and justice ministers at the French interior ministry was held before a massive anti-terror march in Paris that included dozens of foreign leaders.
A joint statement by the ministers - representing 11 EU nations including France, Britain, Germany, Sweden and Poland, as well as the European commissioner for migration and home affairs, and US Attorney General Eric Holder - emphasised their "determination to fight together against terrorism".
They said it was "essential" that major internet providers cooperate with governments in closely monitoring and, if necessary, removing online content "that aims to incite hatred and terror".
They also want to "step up the detection and screening of travel movements of European nationals" leaving or entering the EU's external borders, and modify Europe's internal Schengen freedom-of-movement rules to widen information sharing and subject suspect passengers to greater checks.
They saw a "crucial and urgent need" to establish an EU-wide database of passenger information for travel inside Europe and for flights leaving or entering the 28-nation bloc.
The steps were unveiled after three days of carnage in Paris by three gunmen who claimed allegiance to Al-Qaeda in Yemen and the rival Islamic State group.
The proposed measures are to be discussed further at a 12 February EU summit focused on reinforcing security. Mr Holder announced a broader 18 February summit in Washington to be hosted by US President Barack Obama.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left), Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, EU President Donald Tusk and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas march in the unity rally. Photo: AFP
On Sunday, at least 3.7 million people demonstrated in France to honour victims march of national unity and a tribute to the 17 victims of last week's terror attacks, including 12 people who died at the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
The killings began on Wednesday at the office of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo where Cherif and Said Kouachi massacred 12 people including some of the country's best-known cartoonists. A day later, Amedy Coulibaly shot dead a policewoman, and later took hostages at a kosher supermarket. Four hostages were killed and police shot dead the gunman.
In the capital, Paris, more more than a million people and dozens of world leaders marched through the heart of the city in the solidarity rally.
Meanwhile, in Germany, a newspaper that reprinted cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed from the Charlie Hebdo newspaper has been the target of an arson attack.
The Hamburger Morgenpost was attacked on Sunday morning local time. Police said two people had been detained, and no-one was hurt.
The regional daily paper had printed three cartoons on its front page, running the headline, "This much freedom must be possible!".
- AFP, Reuters