SERIAL EVACUATIONS: The phenomenon of false bomb threats in France
Bomb threats are increasing in France, causing evacuations and disorganization in many public places. What actually happens when such an alert is reported? How do the authorities handle these situations? What are the risks faced by the authors of these false alerts? This article takes stock of this worrying news.
In recent weeks, France has been faced with a wave of bomb threats affecting airports, tourist sites and educational establishments. According to the Minister of National Education, Gabriel Attal, no less than 168 alerts have been reported in educational establishments since the start of the school year. Airports like Nantes and Beauvais have also been evacuated on several occasions. Even the famous Palace of Versailles was not spared, having to face four evacuations in less than a week.
In this context, where France remains on alert in the face of the risks of importing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict onto its territory, the authorities take each alert very seriously. No threat is overlooked. Flavien Bénazet, general secretary of the SNUIPN police union, emphasizes that “we cannot take risks, so no alert is taken lightly, we evacuate every time”.
Reports can come from telephone calls, emails or even the My Security platform, which allows citizens to quickly report any type of warning to the police. Once the alert is received, the procedure is always the same: it is transmitted to the hierarchy who contacts the department prefecture to decide on the evacuation of the site and the intervention of a mine clearance team.
False bomb threats, although sporadic, are currently experiencing a spike due to the international context and current events. According to Flavien Bénazet, it is common to see this type of alert linked to current events. However, it is difficult to obtain precise statistics on the number of bomb threats recorded each year in France.
When an alert is raised, a search team is formed to search for the suspected explosive device. The official procedure code indicates that this team must include at least one person with good knowledge of the site. Before the bomb disposal team intervenes, the search team must act carefully, without changing the ambient conditions or touching elements that could indicate the presence of a bomb.
Despite investigations carried out to identify the authors of these false alerts, no real risk has been confirmed so far. However, false bomb threats are considered crimes and are subject to legal sanctions..
In conclusion, the false bomb threats currently affecting France are taken very seriously by the authorities. Each report gives rise to an evacuation and a careful search for the suspected device. Although these alerts are punishable offenses, it is necessary to remain vigilant against this phenomenon and to encourage the population to report any information that could help the authorities prevent real terrorist attacks.