Terrorism fears linger one year after Paris attacks
‘The trauma is still in the conscious,’ says expert
It’s been a year since terrorists in Paris launched a devastating series of coordinated shootings and bomb attacks across the city, killing 130 people and wounding hundreds more. At the Bataclan concert hall, 90 people were shot or blown up by suicide bombers.
The venue will reopen on Saturday on the eve of the anniversary, with a performance by British rock star Sting.
The country is hoping that this is a sign that Paris is moving on. But memories of the attacks are still vivid, and the threat of more attacks remains high.
“There is always a risk with terrorism. The risk, you can fight against the risk, but the risk exists. And I think in France, and especially in Paris, and especially in this area, the idea and the trauma of the terrorism is still in the conscious,” said Gilles Ferragu, an expert on terrorism.
France has stepped up its military commitment against Islamic State jihadists in Syria and Iraq, while at home, tens of thousands of armed soldiers patrol streets across the country.
A state of emergency was declared last November and remains in effect today. It gives police extra power to carry out searches and place people under house arrest.
Heavily armed troops on the streets are part of a range of security measures that France has introduced to try and make the public feel more secure.
But some people say the measures are affecting their daily lives.
“One of the problems with the state of emergency is its duration. There is no control over it and it’s tending to become permanent. There is a feeling in the public opinion that the state of emergency is defending our way of life, whereas it is also infringing upon our liberties,” said Cécile Guérin-Bargues, a law professor at the Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense University.
Meanwhile, jihadist attacks are still happening in France. In July, 86 people were killed in the southern region of the country. Two weeks later, a priest was murdered by an ISIS fanatic.
So while many in France do want to move forward and put the November attacks behind them, there is also a rather grim acceptance that terrorism is increasingly becoming part of everyday life. (Reuters)