France has heightened its security measures following a series of bomb threats targeting several airports. This comes shortly after the country was placed on its highest security alert due to a fatal school knife attack.
On 19 October, 14 French airports received bomb threats, leading to the evacuation of at least eight, including notable ones like Bordeaux-Mérignac, Montpellier, and Nantes. Lille airport, after announcing an evacuation due to a bomb threat on social media, later confirmed the threat was cleared and operations were resuming. Bordeaux airport faced its second evacuation in two days but later resumed its operations.
The previous day, multiple airports, including Toulouse, Biarritz, and Lille, were evacuated after receiving threats. These evacuations were brief, with no reported explosions, indicating potential hoaxes.
In addition to the airport threats, major Parisian tourist spots, such as the Louvre Museum and the Palace of Versailles, were evacuated over potential security concerns. The Louvre, which attracts tens of thousands daily, reopened the next day after no threats were identified.
France’s Transport Minister, Clément Beaune, stressed that these false alarms are serious crimes that will face legal consequences. Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti further highlighted that those issuing false threats could face up to three years in jail and a fine of €45,000.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has since advised travelers in France to remain vigilant and heed local authority advice. (AA)
