Increased Security In East Africa After Paris Shooting

Kenya security forces have battled to repel attacks by al-Shabab (AFP)

Uganda and Kenya have stepped security following the Paris attacks to prevent militant Islamists from striking in the two East African states, local media reports say. Ugandan police spokesman Fred Enanga said police and the army had increased patrols to prevent attacks, especially by militants from the al-Shabab group, which is active in the region, the state-owned New Vision newspaper reports.

The report continues:

"We have, as a precautionary measure, heightened our level of alertness, through additional resources and deployment of personnel on a 24-hour basis in places with high population and gatherings," Mr Enanga said.

In Kenya, security has been increased at all borders, the private Standard newspaper reports.

More police officers were also deployed yesterday to churches, shopping centres and other public places, it adds.

"Whilst we in the police have stepped up vigilance, we call on the public to exercise maximum level of alertness," said police chief Joseph Boinnet.

Al-Shabab killed about 150 people in an assault on Kenya's Garissa University College in April, and at least 67 in an attack on the Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi in 2013.

In Uganda, twin bombings by al-Shabab in 2010 left more than 70 people dead.