Security was reinforced this Saturday, October 7 around places of worship and Jewish educational establishments in France, particularly in Paris and its suburbs, after the attack launched against Israel by Palestinian Hamas from the Gaza Strip, announced the Minister of Interior Gérald Darmanin. At the request of President Emmanuel Macron, “we have already given orders to the prefects to protect community places of course and as soon as I return to Paris, I will chair a security meeting to obviously know the difficulties that we could have on national soil “, explained Gérald Darmanin, during a trip to Toulouse, adding that there was currently “no threat”. The Minister of the Interior specified “being extremely attentive” to the protection of places of worship such as synagogues, but also schools.
In Paris, police chief Laurent Nuñez asked for “increased vigilance from his staff throughout the Paris metropolitan area and the system will be further strengthened in the international context”, indicated a police source. The security of Israeli sites of interest and places of worship had already been reinforced in mid-September with the start of the Jewish year marked by the celebrations of several holidays in September and October.
In Seine-et-Marne, there has been a “reinforcement of police patrols” since this Saturday morning but “without any particular threat”, mentioned a police source. In Val-d’Oise, “staff had already been mobilized in view of the Jewish holidays planned for these days, and we received instructions this morning (Saturday) to strengthen this system”, confirmed a police source. In Lyon also, “due to the current international context, particular vigilance around the religious sites of the Jewish community will be put in place”, indicated the Rhône prefecture. And according to the Isère prefecture, “the ministry’s directive to secure Jewish places of worship will also apply in Isère as in all departments”.
Emmanuel Macron “strongly condemned the terrorist attacks currently hitting Israel” and expressed his “full solidarity with the victims, their families and loved ones”. Hamas launched a surprise military offensive against Israel on Saturday by firing thousands of rockets and infiltrating fighters into Israeli territory, followed by Israeli airstrikes on the micro-territory controlled by this Palestinian Islamist movement.