14-10-2023 (PARIS) The iconic Louvre Museum in Paris made a sudden decision to close its doors on Saturday, citing security concerns. An official announcement was made via the museum’s social media account, formerly known as Twitter, which stated, “For security reasons, the Louvre Museum is closing its doors today.”
The unsettling move comes in the wake of alarming reports received by the museum regarding bomb threats. The closure was necessitated by the implementation of stringent verification measures in accordance with France’s national security alert system, Vigipirate.
The heightened state of alert in France can be attributed to recent incidents that have shaken the nation. Just a day prior to the Louvre’s closure, a tragic event unfolded in the northern city of Arras, where an assailant fatally attacked a teacher and left three others injured. In response to this grave incident, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne escalated the national security alert level to its highest, signifying the seriousness of the situation.
French Minister of Interior, Gerald Darmanin, took to public television channel TF1 to address the mounting security concerns. He announced the government’s determination to deploy additional security forces for the surveillance of public gathering places. This move is seen as a crucial step in ensuring the safety and security of citizens and visitors alike.
The French presidential office, the Elysee, has also taken decisive action to reinforce national security. In a statement released on Saturday, they revealed plans to deploy up to 7,000 soldiers from France’s anti-terrorism special force, Sentinel, across the country by the upcoming Monday.
