Switzerland warns of terror attacks on Covid vaccine sites
Premium‘Attacks on such targets would both hit large crowds and generate intensive media coverage,’ the NDB spokesperson, Isabelle Graber, said in a written response to questions from the newspaper NZZ am Sonntag
Switzerland’s Federal Intelligence Service is warning of potential terrorist attacks on coronavirus vaccine infrastructure including vaccination centers, transport and manufacturing facilities, newspaper NZZ am Sonntag reported.
“Attacks on such targets would both hit large crowds and generate intensive media coverage," the NDB spokesperson, Isabelle Graber, said in a written response to questions from NZZ.
The NDB is concerned about attacks from jihadist groups, the newspaper reported. So far, there are no tangible indications of planned attacks, according to the NDB.
Switzerland’s vaccine deliveries are coordinated and conducted by the Swiss Army. Doses are stored in secret locations.
A spokesperson for Lonza Group AG, a manufacturer of Moderna Inc’s vaccine, told the newspaper the company wouldn’t comment “on such sensitive topics."
Switzerland has suffered a significant increase in Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations in recent weeks. The Alpine nation has distributed 9.51 million vaccine doses, enough to cover 55.6% of the population, according to Bloomberg’s vaccine tracker.
That’s one of the lowest vaccine rates among major economies in Europe.
NZZ also reported that Health Minister Alain Berset said in an interview that mobile vaccination efforts need to be increased.
“The cantons must send out a lot more mobile vaccination teams," Berset said.
The federal councilor also warned that travel restrictions such as mandatory quarantines for returning travelers could be re-introduced.
This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
