Paris Attacks: Countries Beef Up Security While Australian Prime Minister Says Attack Bore 'Hallmarks' Of ISIS

Several countries beefed up their security measures following the deadly Paris attacks on Friday, which left at least 127 people dead and 180 injured. The six attacks conducted in and around the French capital city led the country’s president François Hollande to declare a state of emergency and the borders to be closed, while the residents of the city were told to stay in.

On Saturday, Singapore announced that it will step up the security in the country and raise its alert level. "In Singapore, today, we have raised our alert level. We have stepped up security measures, border checks and vigilance," K. Shanmugam, the Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law for Singapore said in a statement cited by the Straits Times, adding: "We encourage everyone to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities or persons to the authorities."

Neighboring country Belgium also tightened its borders by increasing the checks there. However it said that there was no need to increase the alert-level, Deutsche Welle reported Saturday. The country also began a crisis center inside its interior ministry while its security council was due to meet Saturday.

"Reinforced border checks have been established on the borders within the framework, especially of a close collaboration with the French authorities," Belgium's national center for threat evaluation, OCAM, reportedly said, adding: "As a precaution, a heightened awareness of the police services was requested for all big events planned at the weekend in Belgium as well as for the football match on Tuesday."

The country’s Prime Minister Charles Michel said, according to Deutsche Welle, that he was "sickened by this tragedy," and added that the country was at "France's side."

German authorities were also analyzing their security situation after the Paris attacks. A spokesperson for the Interior Ministry in Berlin, said early Saturday: "Germany remains in the focus of international terrorism." German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere also said that the country was willing to provide any support needed to the French authorities, including its special forces.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said that his country’s alert level will remain “high” after the Paris attacks, and added that they bore “hallmarks of a Daesh (also known as Islamic State group) exercise.”

“I am aware of an Australian who has been injured in the Paris attacks and we are providing consular assistance,” Turnbull said, according to the Guardian, adding that he will not raise the alert level to “extreme” yet.

In the U.S, major cities, including New York and Boston, beefed up security efforts Friday night as a precautionary measure while the New York Police Department said, according to Deutsche Welle, that officers from the Counterterrorism Response Command and other special units were deployed at places that are prominent tourist locations. The forces were also deployed to French Consulate in Manhattan.

"Teams have been dispatched to crowded areas around the city out of an abundance of caution to provide police presence and public reassurance as we follow the developing situation overseas," NYPD reportedly said.