The Louvre Museum and the Palace of Versailles evacuated and closed for security reasons
On Saturday October 14, the Louvre Museum in Paris and the Palace of Versailles were evacuated and closed following bomb threats. These measures were taken in the context of France being in an “attack emergency” following the tragic terrorist attack which claimed the life of a teacher in Arras.
Videos posted on social media showed visitors rushing out of the rooms of the Louvre and the Palace of Versailles, while alarm sirens sounded in the background. The Louvre Museum said it had received a written message reporting a risk for the museum and its visitors, which led to the evacuation and exceptional closure of the establishment.
The Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, stressed that there was no real threat and that it was neither a bomb planting nor an imminent attack. The evacuations and closures were carried out as a precautionary measure and to allow the authorities to carry out the necessary checks.
At the Palace of Versailles, the bomb threat was transmitted via an anonymous message on the website moncommissariat.fr. Checks are underway and the castle will remain closed for the rest of the day.
These evacuations come as France raised its alert level to “emergency attack” after the assassination of a teacher in Arras. President Emmanuel Macron called the attack “Islamist terrorism”, which led to the deployment of 7,000 soldiers on French territory.
It should be noted that the Louvre Museum, which welcomed 7.8 million visitors in 2022, will reimburse people who have booked a visit for this day.
In conclusion, these evacuations and closures of the Louvre Museum and the Palace of Versailles demonstrate increased fears of attacks in France. The measures taken by the authorities aim to ensure the safety of visitors and prevent any possible risks. Vigilance remains essential in this context of terrorist threat.