PARIS: The French authorities mentioned on Friday (Dec 29) it is going to deploy greater than 95,000 police and army personnel for New 12 months’s Eve celebrations, including {that a} heightened “terrorist risk” required tight safety.
Paris alone, the place as much as a million revellers are anticipated on the Champs-Elysees Sunday night time – twice as many as final yr – will get 6,000 safety forces to maintain order.
Inside Minister Gerald Darmanin advised reporters that Sunday’s deployment was motivated by “a context of a heightened terrorist risk as a result of battle in Israel and Palestine”.
Extra folks have been anticipated within the streets of the capital than final yr due to further celebrations to mark 2024 because the yr of the Paris Summer time Olympics and Paralympics, Darmanin mentioned.
The nationwide deployment would come with 90,000 police or gendarmes, 5,000 members of the anti-terror army contingent Operation Sentinelle in addition to cellular items, Darmanin mentioned.
There can be a ban on alcoholic drinks in some areas of Paris, he mentioned.
No political demonstrations can be allowed, added Paris police chief Laurent Nunez.
Folks can be body-searched earlier than having access to a festivities’ perimeter across the Champs-Elysees, and be banned from carrying “any object that could possibly be used as a weapon”, he mentioned.
Drones can be used for surveillance, and France’s intelligence companies can be placed on alert, Darmanin mentioned.