All necessary measures would be taken to guarantee Malta’s security in the wake of the Paris attacks but the country would not go into “lockdown”, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said yesterday.

“We will remain cautious and take all possible precautions but we cannot go to the other extreme and create a situation that threatens the normality of everyday life,” Dr Muscat said in an interview on One Radio.

Dr Muscat noted, however, that the attacks showed the importance of effective security measures, particularly in light of the two high-level summits Malta was hosting this month.

“During the Valletta Migration Summit, people complained about the measures we took to guarantee security,” Dr Muscat said, mentioning road closures and the reintroduction of border controls.

Expressing sorrow and rage, Dr Muscat said Malta would today join the rest of Europe in a minute’s silence

“What happened in Paris shows the importance of those measures.”

Expressing his “sorrow and rage” at Friday’s terrorist attacks, which left 129 dead and injured 352 in various locations across the French capital, Dr Muscat said that Malta would today join the rest of Europe in a minute’s silence in solidarity with the victims and their families.

The Prime Minister said he had held discussions with the security service over the weekend on the possible implications of the attacks in Paris on Malta’s hosting of the Commonwealth summit later this month.

However, he stressed that there was no information of a threat to Malta’s safety and that preparations for the leaders’ meeting would continue as planned.

“My appeal is for everyone to keep calm and refrain from unnecessary alarm.

“If any information of a threat comes to light, we will keep the public informed,” Dr Muscat added.

“While there is no reason to think it will be required, we are ready to cancel any ceremonies if it is necessary to guarantee the safety of our country,” he promised.