French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced on Sunday the deployment of 13,500 police and anti-terror troops outside 4,530 churches to protect them from any “terrorist” acts during the Easter celebrations.
According to the “Baltic Times,” Darmanin stated, “There are no indications that any NATO member country is planning an attack. I do not see any direct threat.” He noted the readiness of law enforcement across the country from Good Friday to Easter Monday to protect services in a very challenging context that might invite terrorism. Darmanin highlighted the security presence around 4,530 Christian places of worship, whether Catholic or Protestant.
France elevated its security alert to the highest level following an ISIS-claimed attack on a concert hall in Moscow on March 22, which killed 144 people. France has been shaken by a series of jihadist attacks in recent years, with two attacks thwarted since the start of the year. One of these attacks was linked to a “violent act against a Catholic religious building” by an individual clearly committed to jihadist ideology. Prosecutors stated that the 62-year-old individual was arrested and jailed in early March.
Catholics and Protestants celebrate Easter this Sunday, while Orthodox Christians will celebrate on May 5. Darmanin, in Pontault-Combault northwest of Paris, emphasized the necessity of the security presence to protect the freedom of worship, noting past targets on churches and Christians in France.
France has recently experienced a wave of bomb threats leading to the evacuation of numerous airports across the country. These incidents occurred in the backdrop of France being on its highest security alert following a fatal attack. Airports in cities including Nantes, Lille, Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Paris-Beauvais were among those affected, with threats causing delays and, in some cases, temporary closures to ensure safety. Security measures were swiftly enacted, involving evacuations and checks by explosive detection teams, but all threats were eventually declared hoaxes, and most airports resumed normal operations shortly thereafter. This series of false alarms also extended to high-profile tourist sites like the Louvre Museum and the Palace of Versailles, underscoring the heightened vigilance amidst current security concerns. The French government has emphasized the seriousness of such false alarms, with legal penalties for those making hoax bomb threats.
