Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has announced that additional security forces will be deployed this weekend for Easter celebrations. The Prime Minister has called for people to remain vigilant. This call comes ahead of attacks on 2 Coptic Christian churches in Egpyt last week during Palm Sunday celebrations. These attacks left 44 people dead and dozens more injured. The Egyptian president declared a 3-month state of emergency following the attacks. In Lebanon, Hariri called for deployments similar to the large increase of police presence to prevent terror attacks during New Year’s Eve. Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk said that “the security forces will be on full alert near all places of worship to prevent any breaches [of the peace].” The Daily Star reported that during the festive period, there was a significant increase in police and army deployment around key areas in Lebanon. Officers’ times off had been cut to meet the needed increase of security. The security meeting was held in the Grand Serail. Other than Hariri and Machnouk, senior defense and security officials also attended, including Defense Minister Yaacoub Sarraf, Army head Gen. Joseph Aoun and General Security head Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim.
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