PARIS — Thousands of visitors were swiftly evacuated from the iconic Louvre Museum today following the reception of a menacing written threat by museum staff. The ominous incident occurred as France stands on its highest state of alert for terrorist attacks, a grim backdrop that follows the tragic killing of a teacher by a suspected radical Islamist in the northern region of the country on Friday.
The Louvre authorities made the prudent decision to suspend operations for the entire afternoon “for security reasons.” A rigorous process of “verifications” of the museum’s premises was initiated after approximately 15,000 individuals were urgently instructed to vacate the premises.
Officials of the Louvre revealed that they had received a written communication on Saturday morning, clearly articulating “a perceived risk to the museum and its visitors.” In light of this grave message, the museum chose to undertake a comprehensive evacuation and closure for the day to carry out essential inspections. Those who had pre-booked tickets for their visits will receive reimbursements.
In a disturbing parallel development, the renowned Château de Versailles was also swiftly evacuated following a bomb threat.
As the specter of terror looms large over the nation, as many as 7,000 troops have been mobilized across the country. The heightened security posture comes in the wake of the tragic stabbing of Dominique Bernard, a 57-year-old French literature teacher, in the courtyard of the Gambetta-Carnot secondary school in Arras on Friday morning. This heinous act claimed the life of Bernard, a dedicated teacher with a tenure dating back to the 1980s. Additionally, three other members of the school staff sustained injuries, with two of them in critical condition.
A 20-year-old former pupil, identified as Mohammed M, and hailing from Russia’s predominantly Muslim North Caucasus region, was promptly arrested and is currently undergoing questioning by anti-terrorist police. Notably, he had previously been placed on France’s Fiche S security watchlist as a suspected radical Islamist and was under extensive surveillance, including phone taps. Law enforcement authorities had conducted a stop-and-search operation on him just the day before, yet found no grounds for his detainment.
The Louvre, internationally renowned as the world’s largest museum and home to such treasures as Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, routinely welcomes up to 40,000 visitors daily.
