RIGA, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Latvian authorities on Friday strongly denounced the latest terror attack in Nice, France where the driver of a truck ploughed through a crowd in the seaside resort city on Thursday night, killing more than 84 people and critically injuring many others.
In addition to sending their condolences and demonstrating solidarity with France, government officials also considered implementing additional security measures for Latvia amid rising terrorism threats in Europe.
Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics made a visit to the French Embassy here on Friday to convey his deepest condolences and assurance of solidarity to French Ambassador Stephane Visconti in the wake of the attack.
"I offer deepest condolences to the people of France and to those who are close to victims of the ghastly act of terror in Nice. As we mourn lives lost, our thoughts also go out to those who were injured and survived, that they may get well soon. We stand in solidarity with our friend and ally -- France -- in the fight against evil and in defending our common values," Rinkevics wrote in the book of condolences at the embassy to honor the memory of the victims.
The Latvian foreign ministry also called "for greater cooperation and information exchange between competent security agencies in Europe."
Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis told reporters on Friday that the capacity of the security police would be beefed up to prevent any possible terror threats in Latvia. The premier said the national authorities in charge of terrorism prevention had been paying increased attention to this issue since terror attacks in Paris and Belgium in November 2015 and March 2016 respectively.
Both Prime Minister Kucinskis and Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis assured the terror threat level in Latvia remained low following the bloody events in Nice.
The 31-year-old Franco-Tunisian driver deliberately rammed into people celebrating France's national holiday, Bastille Day, in the French beach city of Nice, killing at least 84 people.
