Eight French airports and the iconic Palace of Versailles were gripped by security alerts, triggering evacuations and heightened state of alert across the country.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) confirmed that multiple airports faced security alerts on Wednesday, leading to precautionary evacuations. The affected airports spanned across different regions of France, including Toulouse, Biarritz, Pau in the southwest, Nice in the southeast, Lyon in the east, Lille in the north, and Rennes and Nantes in western France, as reported by a DGAC spokesperson and the interior ministry.
Lille airport was a focal point of concern as it was evacuated due to a bomb scare, a message initially conveyed via the airport’s social media platform. The airport subsequently issued a statement affirming the presence of state security teams on-site to manage the situation.
This spate of security alerts and evacuations comes at a time when France remains on high alert, primarily in response to the tragic murder of a schoolteacher in a suspected Islamist attack on October 13.
Furthermore, the Palace of Versailles, one of France’s most renowned tourist attractions, found itself embroiled in a security scare for the third time in just five days, forcing the evacuation of visitors. This disconcerting series of incidents began on the heels of the fatal stabbing of a teacher and, subsequently, false bomb alerts on Saturday. These alerts resulted in the evacuation of prominent landmarks, including the Louvre museum, the Palace of Versailles, and Paris’ Gare de Lyon train station.
The incidents have raised concerns about the ongoing security situation in France and underscore the vigilance of the nation in the face of potential threats. Authorities continue to work diligently to ensure the safety of citizens and visitors alike in this challenging period.
