“The U.S. Embassy is advising official U.S. government travelers to avoid traveling to Paris and other major cities in France on weekends.”
The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, released on April 19 an information notice to the attention of its nationals. And this, because of a “terrorist risk” and “disorders with the civil order”. This alert responds to level 2 (increased vigilance), on a scale of four.
Warning of upcoming protests
In this note, the American administration indicates that terrorist groups “continue to prepare possible attacks in France”. In France, the vigipirate plan is currently at “attack risk”, since March 2021.
The Department also warns, without further details, of upcoming demonstrations in Paris and “other major cities” in the coming weeks.
This note is not new
Questioned by Nice-Matin, the American embassy in Paris indicates that this note is not new and that level 2 was the one in place before the COVID pandemic.
“At that time, travel advisories were coupled, with France at Level 4 for Covid. On April 18, travel advisories were decoupled and France reverted to a Level 2 advisory for the State Department For this reason, travel advisories had to be reissued and include crime factors and terrorism risk, as they have done in the past.”
The Embassy notes, however, that travel by US citizens to France continues. “We expect them to increase and return to previous levels during the traditional summer tourist season.”
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