France’s Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, has local authorities to increase vigilance across the country, particularly at places of worship, festive gatherings, and sites linked to Israeli and American interests, following the Israeli attack on Iran.
In a telegram sent on Friday and seen by French press agency AFP, Mr Retailleau said that “particular vigilance must be exercised at all sites that could be targeted by acts of terrorism or malicious intent by a foreign power,” as Israel and Iran continued their deadly exchange of strikes on Saturday.
Hostilities were triggered by a massive Israeli attack on Iranian military and nuclear sites, to which Tehran responded with ballistic missile strikes.
Against this backdrop, Mr Retailleau called on prefects to pay “special attention” to the security of places of worship, schools, public and institutional buildings, and high-traffic sites, with a visible security presence especially at entry and exit times. This also includes “festive, cultural, or religious gatherings”.
Iran retaliates after Israeli strikes targeting its nuclear programme and military
These enhanced protection measures also apply to “Israeli and American interests as well as establishments belonging to the Jewish community”.
The minister called for the mobilisation of “intelligence services, internal security forces, municipal police and local elected officials”, as well as the “Sentinelle” security operation.
President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday evening a “reinforcement” of the Sentinelle operation, which deploys military personnel across France, “to deal with all potential threats on national territory”.
On Friday, Israel launched unprecedented massive strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, claiming to have intelligence proving that Iran was nearing the “point of no return” towards developing a nuclear bomb.
Iran, which denies producing nuclear weapons, fired dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for what it described as a “declaration of war”.
(With newsagencies)
