The Louvre Museum in Paris was evacuated and closed early due to a received written threat. This decision was linked to the French government’s heightened security alert level following a recent security meeting chaired by President Macron.
The government deployed 7,000 soldiers to enhance security measures. Fortunately, no one was harmed, and no incidents were reported. Paris police are currently conducting verifications at the museum.
Alarms sounded throughout the vast museum in central Paris, as well as in the underground shopping center beneath its iconic pyramid, when the evacuation was announced.
The French government raised the threat alert level and deployed troops following a school attack. In that incident, a former student, suspected of Islamic radicalization, killed a teacher and injured three others before being apprehended.
Police cordoned off the Louvre monument from all sides, and tourists and visitors left the area. Videos posted online captured people leaving, some in haste and others taking photos, with some appearing confused about the situation.
The government’s concern also extends to potential repercussions in France from the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The Louvre, renowned for housing masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, welcomes between 30,000 and 40,000 visitors daily.
President Macron paid tribute to the teacher who was killed in the recent attack, emphasizing the teacher’s heroic actions in protecting students.
School Attack in Arras and Security Measures
A French literature teacher, Dominique Bernard, aged 57, was tragically murdered in a school attack at Gambetta high school in Arras. The attacker, identified as 20-year-old Chechen refugee Mohamed Mogouchkov, also severely wounded two other staff members.
Witnesses reported that the attacker could be heard shouting “Allahu Akbar,” and French authorities linked the incident to events in the Middle East.
President Macron stated that another attempted terror incident was thwarted by security forces. The president referred to the arrest of a radicalized individual who was apprehended while leaving a prayer hall in the Yvelines region of Paris with a prohibited weapon. Eight people were in police custody following Mr. Bernard’s death.
Moguchkov, in his twenties, hails from Russia’s predominantly Muslim southern Caucasus region of Chechnya and was already on a French national security watchlist. The attack left Mr. Bernard fatally stabbed in the throat and chest. School security personnel and a teacher were also wounded.
The attack comes three years after the beheading of teacher Samuel Paty, also by a Chechen extremist, near his school in a Paris suburb. President Macron visited the school and expressed his condolences.
Growing Issue of Knife Violence in France
This incident is part of a concerning trend of knife violence in France. In recent years, the country has faced various attacks involving knives and terrorism.
The deadliest terrorist attack occurred in November 2015 when suicide bombers, pledging allegiance to ISIS, targeted multiple locations in Paris, resulting in 130 deaths.
France has witnessed other attacks on its citizens, including the 2016 Nice truck attack and the Charlie Hebdo shooting in 2015. Knife attacks on law enforcement have also led to casualties.
The attack in Arras follows a recent conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has raised concerns about potential security issues in France.
As a response, the French government has heightened security measures and banned pro-Palestinian protests, citing concerns about public order. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges France faces regarding security and the prevention of extremist violence.
Note: The situation is still unfolding, and further developments may occur.
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