On Sunday, the Palace of Versailles in Yvelines, near Paris, was evacuated for the seventh time in eight days due to an anonymous bomb threat. The area is being searched by security forces
A person was apprehended following the first bomb threats, but the emails and phone calls continued. Until now, all bomb threats have been shown to be false alarms.
Murdered Teacher
France is grappling with a significant increase in bomb threats. Hundreds of schools, as well as regional airports, are under attack. Ostend airport, along with numerous other French airports, had to be evacuated last Wednesday owing to a bomb threat received by threatening email.
According to French authorities, the majority of fake calls are made by young individuals. There have already been 18 arrests and 22 legal investigations launched. The criminal penalty is up to two years in prison and a 30,000 euro fine.
The number of incidents increased sharply after teacher Dominique Bernard was murdered by a radicalized youth in Arras, northern France. After the murder, the highest threat level was put into effect throughout France.
“Cannot last”
The Palace of Versailles is one of the most visited places in France and all of Europe. According to the press service, the castle attracts between 10,000 and 15,000 visitors every day at this time of year. François de Mazières, mayor of Yvelines, fears that the repeated bomb alarms and evacuations will have an impact on visitor numbers. “People are hesitant to come now,” he said on Friday. “This poses very serious problems for the operation of the castle, it not only causes concerns for the travel sector but also heavy financial losses. This is a situation that cannot be allowed to continue.” /TelegraphNews
