French authorities have mobilized approximately 90,000 police officers nationwide for New Year’s Eve, citing a “very high” level of terrorist threats.
As reported by the European network “Euronews,” the local intelligence chief, Celine Berthon, stated that among the 90,000 deployed officers, about 6,000 will be in Paris.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin mentioned that Paris, where over 1.5 million people are expected to attend celebrations around the famous Champs-Elysées, is a significant focus of the security measures.
During a press conference, Darmanin pointed to the “very significant terrorist threat,” partially attributed to “what is happening in Israel and Palestine.”
Darmanin also announced that police will be using drones for the first time to ensure security, alongside the deployment of tens of thousands of firefighters and 5,000 soldiers.
The New Year’s Eve celebrations in Paris will revolve around the 2024 Paris Olympics and will include coordinated music groups, fireworks, and video displays on the Arc de Triomphe.
The security challenge preceding the Olympics was highlighted when a tourist was fatally stabbed near the Eiffel Tower on December 2nd.
Furthermore, the wide-scale attacks like the 2015 Bataclan incident, where armed extremists stormed a music hall and fired on café terraces, killing 130 people, also linger in the collective French memory, underscoring the heightened security measures.
