Nice (AFP)
"Very clearly it is France which is attacked": Emmanuel Macron denounced Thursday from Nice "an Islamist terrorist attack" in the Notre-Dame basilica which left three dead, and announced the passage of 3,000 to 7,000 soldiers for the Operation Sentinel to protect places of worship and schools.
"Our country was hit by an Islamist terrorist attack, once again this morning it was three of our compatriots who fell in Nice", declared the head of state, in front of the church where the attack took place. with a knife.
"At the same time we had a French consular site which was attacked, in Saudi Arabia in Jeddah; at the same time arrests on our territory were made", he added, surrounded by the Ministers of the Interior Gérald Darmanin and of Justice Eric Dupond-Moretti.
An Afghan in traditional dress, armed with a knife and considered to be going to act, was arrested Thursday in Lyon, near the Perrache station.
The president specified that he had decided to spend "in the coming hours" the "mobilization within the framework of Operation Sentinel from 3,000 to 7,000 soldiers on our soil", in order to "protect all places of worship. In particular, of course. , the churches so that All Saints' Day can take place under the conditions that are due ".
He also promised that the schools would be protected "for the coming back to school".
"I mean here, first and foremost, the support of the entire nation for Catholics in France and elsewhere," added Emmanuel Macron.
"After the assassination of Father Hamel in the summer of 2016, it is once again the Catholics who are attacked in our country, threatened", added the Head of State, repeating that the "whole nation" would be held "so that religion can continue to be exercised freely in our country".
He also recalled that the city of Nice was hit for "the third time" by "terrorism", after the attack which killed 86 people in 2016 and an attack the year before against soldiers.
"I know the shock that your city feels, and with it the whole country and I believe the whole world watching us", he declared to the LR mayor of the city, Christian Estrosi, present at his side.
With a serious face, the President of the Republic also expressed "a message of absolute firmness" and "called for unity".
"In France, there is only one community. It is the national community. I want to say to all our fellow citizens, whatever their religion, whether they believe or that they do not believe, that we must , in these moments, unite us and not give in to the spirit of division, "he said.
Emmauel Macron again called for "not to give in to any spirit of terror".
"I know that all our fellow citizens are now deeply shocked, upset by what has just happened once again, so I call for unity".
jri-bap-cg-pab-caz / ib / nm
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