Europe 1 / Photo credits: Arthur Nicholas Orchard / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP 6:39 p.m., March 31, 2024

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin confirmed the arrest of a 62-year-old Egyptian on March 5, who wanted to target the Notre-Dame-de-Paris cathedral as revealed by "Le Journal du Dimanche". The opportunity for the minister to recall the presence of the terrorist threat in the West.

A 62-year-old Egyptian was arrested on March 5 in Paris when he wanted to target the Notre-Dame-de-Paris cathedral,

Le Journal du Dimanche

revealed on March 30. A total of five individuals, all linked to the Islamic State, have been arrested in recent weeks in terrorism cases. “We thwart attacks every two months, and this is indeed the case of a recent person whom we arrested thanks to the services of the DGSI,” confirms Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin.

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“The very high terrorist threat in the West”

The minister adds that "obviously", this individual "was going to act against a religious building, or at least its surroundings, and possibly affect Christians". If Gérald Darmanin does not want to say more about this questioning, he would like to recall the context in which France finds itself. “Once again, the terrorist threat is very high in the West in general, in Europe and of course in France in particular.”

And the tenant of Place Beauvau emphasized: “I can assure you that morning, noon, evening and night, the services of the Ministry of the Interior work for the security of the French.”