France reassures protection during Christmas festivities
Barriers erected to prevent vehicles entering market zone in Strasbourg
PARIS: France’s government sought on Tuesday to reassure the public about safety during year-end festivities after a suspected militant attack on a Christmas market in Berlin, saying security forces were working round the clock to prevent such violence.
French Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux met his German counterpart in Berlin hours before a truck mowed into crowds at a Christmas market there on Monday evening, killing 12 and injuring dozens more in what police say was a suspected terrorist attack.
Le Roux urged people to go out and party despite security fears, saying everything was being done to ensure protection, notably at hundreds of outdoor markets that draw millions of people into the streets at Christmas.
“Police and intelligence are on the job 24 hours a day. Protection is guaranteed. I want people to go out and enjoy themselves,” he told Europe 1 radio.
He headed to Strasbourg in northeastern France to one of Europe’s oldest Christmas markets, a sprawl of festive food, gift stalls and lights that draws about two million people ahead of December 25, one of the main dates on the Christian calendar.
There are hundreds of markets across France, other European countries neighbouring Germany. “We’re not going to give in blackmail and terrorism,” said to similar as in such as Strasbourg Mayor Roland Ries. “That would be tantamount to handing victory to them and their propaganda battle against the West.”
Large barriers had been erected to prevent vehicles entering the market zone in the ancient centre of Strasbourg, much of which is surrounded by canals and bridges, with security checks on people entering, Ries said.
More than 230 people have been killed in attacks over the last two years in France, including 130 in Paris by bombers and gunmen in November 2015 — an assault for which the IS militant group claimed responsibility.
Deployments of soldiers and police to sensitive sites such as airports and railways was boosted to 10,000 in the wake of the 2015 attacks, but later pared back to 7,000. Le Roux said the other 3,000 were on standby for year-end operations.
Police and intelligence are on the job 24 hours a day. Protection is guaranteed. I want people to go out and enjoy themselves BRUNO LE ROUX
Interior Minister