Algeria has stepped up security measures in its capital Algiers after the killing of the leader of an Islamic State (IS)-linked group, a security source said on Wednesday.

The source told Xinhua that Algerian authorities started on Tuesday to beef up security presence near official buildings in the capital to thwart potential terrorist acts in retaliation to the murder of Abdelmalek Gouri, the leader of the Caliphate Soldiers.

The measures include securing some Western embassies and nationals, including those of France, the United States and Britain, the source added.

On Tuesday, the Algerian army announced the killing of Gouri whose group had claimed responsibility for the beheading of French national Herve Gourdel in September.

Gourdel, a French tourist, was abducted in Algeria on Sept. 21, and then assassinated two days later.

The Caliphate Soldiers said it had killed the French citizen to pledge allegiance to IS.

As many as 3,000 troops have been deployed ever since in the mountains of Tizi Ouzou to track down the assailants.

A few weeks ago, the army announced the killing of two members of the militant group. Endit

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