EPAPolice on the Champs-Élysées in Paris (Archive: 2020)
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 18:44
-
Frank Renout
France correspondent
-
Frank Renout
France correspondent
The French authorities are taking far-reaching security measures around New Year’s Eve. 90,000 police and gendarmes are deployed throughout the country, as well as another 5,000 soldiers. 6,000 troops are deployed in Paris alone. The reason is “the very high terrorist threat,” said Interior Minister Darmanin.
In October, French authorities declared a state of high alert after a teacher was stabbed to death by a radicalized Muslim in Arras, northern France. Partly due to the international tensions, there was fear of new attacks. “There is a connection between what happened here and the situation in the Middle East,” Minister Darmanin said at the time, referring to the war between Israel and Hamas.
Massive police deployment
Almost a month ago, a German tourist was stabbed to death near the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The perpetrator said afterwards that he had actually wanted to attack a Jewish memorial as “revenge” for the Israeli attacks on Gaza.
Travel advice in Paris tightened
Due to the persistent terrorist threat, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs tightened the travel advice for Paris at the beginning of this month. The travel advice for the French capital has been raised to yellow. This means that people can travel to Paris, but there are risks. In the rest of the country, the travel advice remains green, the lowest level.
These events are now leading to massive police deployment. The most concerns are about the upcoming New Year’s Eve in the capital Paris. The city council organizes various activities in the evening on the Champs-Élysées, such as performances and a fireworks show.
“At least one to one and a half million people are expected in Paris on December 31, of whom 700,000 to 1 million will come to the Champs-Élysées,” Paris’s top police chief, Laurent Nunez, said. The streets around the Champs-Élysées will be cordoned off and access controls will be installed everywhere. Visitors who want to celebrate New Year’s Eve are “systematically searched” by the police.
Alcohol ban
It is forbidden to take alcohol onto the streets that evening. Metro stations close. The police will use an unknown number of drones and two helicopters to monitor the crowds and identify any emergencies. “Never before has such a large security zone been declared,” Darmanin said.
Authorities are also taking extra security measures in other parts of France. Mobile riot police units are on standby in and around major cities. Agents strictly check for illegal fireworks, especially from Germany. Certain mortar fireworks are sometimes used to target the police. The police will also be extra alert to disturbances in suburbs.
For the authorities there is still a catch. French unions have announced strikes for New Year’s Eve at the municipal police force, which employs around 25,000 people. They demand more salary. The government hopes to reach an agreement with the unions before the turn of the year.
2023-12-29 17:44:52
#France #deploys #police #masse #Years #Eve #significant #terrorist #threat
