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Police officers in front of the Saint-Maclou Cathedral north of Paris
Photo: Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt / picture alliance / dpa / AFP
In view of the increased threat of terrorism, thousands of police officers, gendarmes and soldiers are securing Easter services in France. On Sunday morning alone, 13,500 security forces were deployed at 4,350 Christian sites across the country, said Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin in Pontoise. The presence is very important so that the masses can take place and enables the exercise of religious freedom. Churches and Christians have been targeted more often in the past. In France, the highest terror alert level is back in effect following the terrorist attack by Islamist extremists near Moscow.
In addition, Darmanin continued, a terrorist suspect who wanted to attack a Christian building or its surroundings was recently arrested. Darmanin did not give any details. "The threat of terrorism is very high in the West in general, in Europe and of course especially in France." He assured that many assassination attempts were being thwarted.
France only lowered the security level in January, but now the highest alert level applies again after the attack near Moscow. According to Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, the “Islamic State” (IS) is also an acute threat to France.
sug/dpa-AFX