French Gov’t mobilises unprecedented security measures amid heightened terrorist threat

The French government has announced today – Friday December 29, 2023 – of its decision to deploy an extensive force of over 95,000 police and military personnel in response to an elevated “terrorist threat,” for the New Year’s Eve celebrations. 

Paris, anticipating up to one million revelers on the Champs-Elysees, will witness an impressive deployment of 6,000 security forces to maintain order – double the number from the previous year.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin emphasised the necessity of this heightened security measure, attributing it to the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine. 

The anticipated surge in crowd size is not only due to the traditional celebrations but also in light of additional events commemorating 2024 as the year of the Paris Summer Olympics and Paralympics.

The nationwide deployment comprises 90,000 police or gendarmes, 5,000 members of the anti-terror military contingent Operation Sentinelle, and mobile units. 

With an emphasis on public safety, certain areas of Paris will enforce a ban on alcoholic drinks, and political demonstrations will not be permitted, as stated by Paris police chief Laurent Nunez.

Security protocols will be rigorous, with body searches mandated for individuals entering the festivities’ perimeter around the Champs-Elysees. 

Furthermore, attendees are prohibited from carrying “any object that could be used as a weapon.” 

Surveillance efforts will include the utilisation of drones, and France’s intelligence services will be on high alert, according to Minister Darmanin.