Biarritz (AFP)
The semi-rigid boats start Wednesday afternoon at full speed from the port of Anglet, a few kilometers from the neighboring Biarritz on which all the lights are pointed.
On board, teams of intervention of the national police, more precisely CRS accompanied by diving aquatic rescuers, engage in the mouth of the Adour to join the biarrotes coast in a few minutes.
In Biarritz, where the leaders of seven major powers are expected from Saturday for three days, security is also available on the Atlantic Ocean.
Offshore, a maritime security device, involving the national navy, customs, maritime affairs, gendarmerie and national police, has been strengthened to secure the coastline of this seaside town before and during the summit of heads of state.
"The forbidden zone has a length of 1,700 meters and goes up to 1,400 meters offshore," explains Captain Pascal Gensous, who is in charge of specialized resources committed to the G7. He points to the famous Rocher de la Vierge on one side and the Biarritz lighthouse on the other, which frame the bay.
From Friday at midnight, until Monday midnight, in this area facing the Grande Plage, with its casino and the Hotel du Palais where are scheduled the meetings of the big seven, "no boat can pass and we can not not swim, "said the policeman.
Behind him, on the beach in the distance, still accessible to the tourist for a few days, the silhouettes of bathers and walkers stand out, before the summer vacationers desert the seaside city to make room for this ultra-secure summit.
- The rivers too -
Six boats and around 50 police officers will be taking turns in the area around the clock to check the boats and rescue those who fall into the water.
"Divers can also check for anything suspicious, such as inspecting a hull or finding anything that could be dangerous" on the sea, says Captain Gensous. Around him, the lifeguards put on their suits for an exercise.
Patrol boat, motorboats, motorized and semi-rigid inflatable boats of the Maritime Gendarmerie complete the device placed under the command of the maritime prefect of Brest, and already active for a few days.
"For the moment, we are rather in a phase of recognition and pedagogy vis-à-vis the users of the sea," said Colonel Ghislain, who is in command of the Atlantic Maritime Gendarmerie.
In addition to the Atlantic coast, the national police also planned intervention boats on the rivers Hendaye and Bayonne. In the first city, where the counter-summit takes place, a large demonstration called Saturday will pass especially over the Bidassoa, border river, to reach the Spanish city of Irun.
As for Bayonne, where demonstrations are also expected, it is the Adour River that will be subject to increased surveillance, "to recover any people who could fall into the water," says Captain Pascal Gensous.
If / pjl / DLM
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