France on terror alert as voters go to the polls
FRANCE went to the polls amid soaring terror fears yesterday after a knifewielding man was arrested in one of the country’s busiest stations.
Them an was immediately surrounded by heavily armed police after he walked into Gare du Nord station in Paris.
Videos posted online showed officers surrounding him on the ground as travellers hurried past.
Police said he was stopped before anyone could be harmed.
Hours after the incident occurred, police had still not said if it was terrorism-related.
The dramatic scene unfolded as election stations opened in French overseas territories for the country’s unpredictable presidential election.
People on the mainland will get their chance to vote today.
Opinion polls have shown a tight race among four top contenders vying for the two places in the May 7 run- off which will decide who becomes the next head of state.
Security has been a prominent concern for voters after a wave of extremist attacks on French soil.
The incident with the knifewielding man happened amid heightened security after a policeman was killed and two others injured in Paris on Thursday night in an attack on the Champs Elysees.
The murder of police officer Xavier Jugele by ISIS fanatic Karim Cheurfi is the latest in a long list of Islamist attacks in France.
Following his murder, more than 100 wives and partners of police protested in Paris yesterday against attacks on officers.
The Angry Police Wives group marched through the city two days after Mr Jugele was shot twice in the head by Cheurfi.
Separately, police fired tear gas amid confrontations after a trade union demonstration in eastern Paris.
A 200- strong mob clashed with police after they hijacked the peaceful rally organised by leftwing unions and communists.
Far- right candidate Marine Le Pen’s campaign co- ordinator has claimed that France could break into civil war, if the nation continues to be hit with terror attacks.
Jean Messiha said that a continuation of “feeble” leadership will result in ISIS strengthening their hold in the country.
Polls have suggested Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron, an independent centrist and former economy minister, were in the lead.
Le Pen received a boost following the attack, with the first poll conducted entirely after Thursday’s attack suggesting she was almost neck-and-neck with Macron.
However, conservative former Prime Minister Francois Fillon, whose campaign was initially derailed by corruption allegations that his wife was paid as his non- working parliamentary aide, appeared to be closing the gap, as wa s f a r- l ef t i s t , Jean - Lu c Melenchon.