French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Friday (Dec 29) that his government would tighten security for New Year celebrations in France due to a 'very high' terror threat, news agency Reuters reported.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Friday (Dec 29) that his government would tighten security for New Year celebrations in France due to a 'very high' terror threat, news agency Reuters reported. "I called for an extremely strong mobilisation of the police and gendarmerie services against the backdrop of a very high terrorist threat. Of course, because of what is happening in Israel and Palestine," Interior Minister Darmanin told reporters. Darmanin added that he had asked for the mobilisation of more than 90,000 police and gendarmes, plus 5,000 soldiers from Operation Sentinelle. " There will also be tens of thousands of firefighters, as the Sécurité Civile will be particularly mobilised," he said. Also read: Israel-Hamas war: Biden, Hamas, and different degrees of empathy "We (will) have around ten National Gendarmerie helicopters that fly all over the country, helping the police to carry out what we call manoeuvres, spotting problems and helping the police to intervene. But also, and this is something completely new for 31 December, we'll be flying drones, which proved highly effective during the Rugby World Cup, as well as in the fight against urban violence. So a lot of airborne resources are provided for by law," the minister further said. A growing risk of attacks by extremists The French interior minister's remarks comes amid growing risk of extremist attacks not just in France, but the whole of Europe since the war between Israel and Hamas started on October 7. Nearly a week into the conflict, a high school teacher in France's Arras was stabbed by a former student who claimed he was a member of the Islamic State (IS). The attacker also made a marginal reference to the Israel-Hamas war before stabbing 57-year-old Dominique Bernard of the Lycee Gambetta High School. On Dec 2, a 26-year-old French national upset over the conflict attacked tourists near the Eiffel Tower. The attacker, a male, attacked a tourist couple with a knife on the Quai de Grenelle, mortally wounding a German national. he then attacked two other people with a hammer after being chased by the police and getting arrested. Interior Minister Darmanin said the man was upset about the Gaza war and Muslims dying in Afghanistan and Palestine. Also watch: Israel-Palestine war: Is a global jihad emerging against the West? | Dark World × The 26-year-old had been sentenced to four years in prison in 2016 for planning another attack. He was on the French security services' watch list, and was also known for having psychiatric disorders, Darmanin added. (With inputs from agencies)

France to tighten security for New Year celebrations due to 'very high' terror threat

A probe has been launched into recent violent unrest in the Paris suburb of Sevran, said&nbsp;French&nbsp;Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin on Tuesday, during which police came under attack from youths.

The trouble in Sevran comes with the&nbsp;French&nbsp;presidential election less than two weeks away, in which fears over violent crime, racial tensions and terrorism will feature high among voters' concerns.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-government-to-file-criminal-complaint-against-care-group-orpea-465942">French government to file criminal complaint against care group Orpea</a>

"An inquiry is underway concerning the intervention of police last Saturday afternoon in Sevran. Following violence and acts of vandalism, 16 arrests were made during the weekend and police apprehended 13 people yesterday evening," said Darmanin on his Twitter account.

Stephane Blanchet, who is the mayor for Sevran which lies to the north-east of Paris, wrote on his Twitter account that trouble had first broken out during the weekend after a local man, aged 33, died after being shot by police.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wary-of-escalation-france-calls-for-restraint-after-bidens-butcher-jibe-466052">&nbsp;Wary of escalation, France calls for restraint after Biden's 'butcher' jibe</a>

French&nbsp;media reports said the police had opened fire on him after chasing him on suspicion of having stolen a vehicle.

Images posted on social media showed youths clashing with police during the weekend and into the start of this week.

France's 'banlieues' - high-rise housing estates on the outskirts of major cities - have long been flashpoints of anger over social and economic grievances. In 2005, unrest lasted three weeks after two youths died fleeing police in another northern Paris suburb.

Watch |&nbsp;France's Presidential election: President Emmanuel Macron faces worried voters

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/frances-presidential-election-president-emmanuel-macron-faces-worried-voters-466564/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

A probe has been launched into recent violent unrest in the Paris suburb of Sevran, said French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin on Tuesday, during which police came under attack from youths.

A probe has been launched into recent violent unrest in the Paris suburb of Sevran, said French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin on Tuesday, during which police came under attack from youths. The trouble in Sevran comes with the French presidential election less than two weeks away, in which fears over violent crime, racial tensions and terrorism will feature high among voters' concerns. Also read | French government to file criminal complaint against care group Orpea "An inquiry is underway concerning the intervention of police last Saturday afternoon in Sevran. Following violence and acts of vandalism, 16 arrests were made during the weekend and police apprehended 13 people yesterday evening," said Darmanin on his Twitter account. Stephane Blanchet, who is the mayor for Sevran which lies to the north-east of Paris, wrote on his Twitter account that trouble had first broken out during the weekend after a local man, aged 33, died after being shot by police. Also read | Wary of escalation, France calls for restraint after Biden's 'butcher' jibe French media reports said the police had opened fire on him after chasing him on suspicion of having stolen a vehicle. Images posted on social media showed youths clashing with police during the weekend and into the start of this week. France's 'banlieues' - high-rise housing estates on the outskirts of major cities - have long been flashpoints of anger over social and economic grievances. In 2005, unrest lasted three weeks after two youths died fleeing police in another northern Paris suburb. Watch | France's Presidential election: President Emmanuel Macron faces worried voters

French Interior Minister: Probe underway into recent violent unrest in Paris suburb

France's&nbsp;Interior&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Gerald Darmanin said on Monday that he would travel to&nbsp;Corsica&nbsp;later this week and hold&nbsp;talks&nbsp;with local elected officials&nbsp;after&nbsp;violent&nbsp;protests&nbsp;erupted on the weekend, a few weeks before the presidential election.

Calm must be restored immediately, the&nbsp;minister&nbsp;said in a statement.

Darmanin will head to&nbsp;Corsica&nbsp;on Wednesday and Thursday.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/thousands-protest-in-france-to-call-for-more-attention-towards-climate-461810">Thousands protest in France to call for more attention towards climate</a>

Protesters in the northern&nbsp;Corsican town of Bastia attacked public buildings and threw projectiles at police on Sunday in the latest demonstration over an attack on a jailed nationalist at a mainland&nbsp;French&nbsp;prison.

Colonna, a&nbsp;Corsican shepherd, is serving a life sentence for the 1998 murder of Claude Erignac, who as prefect of&nbsp;Corsica&nbsp;embodied the power of the&nbsp;French&nbsp;state on an island with a history of separatist violence.

The attack left the&nbsp;Corsican militant in a coma and led to renewed calls for nationalist prisoners to be transferred from the&nbsp;French&nbsp;mainland to the island, closer to their families.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-accuses-russia-of-lies-over-ukraine-rights-allegations-461725">France accuses Russia of 'lies' over Ukraine rights allegations</a>

Authorities have long rejected these demands, saying nationalist prisoners were special status prisoners.

In a bid to ease tensions, Prime&nbsp;Minister&nbsp;Jean Castex last week removed this status for Colonna and two other detainees, members of the so-called "Erignac commando". But the move was seen as too little too late by Colonna’s supporters in&nbsp;Corsica.

Watch |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine Conflict: France warns world on war as NATO deploys rapid response force

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-conflict-france-warns-world-on-war-as-nato-deploys-rapid-response-force-456838/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

French&nbsp;prosecutors have also launched a terrorism investigation as Colonna's attacker was serving a nine-year sentence for planning terrorist attacks.

France's Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Monday that he would travel to Corsica later this week and hold talks with local elected officials after violent protests erupted on the weekend, a few weeks before the presidential election.

France's Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Monday that he would travel to Corsica later this week and hold talks with local elected officials after violent protests erupted on the weekend, a few weeks before the presidential election. Calm must be restored immediately, the minister said in a statement. Darmanin will head to Corsica on Wednesday and Thursday. Also read | Thousands protest in France to call for more attention towards climate Protesters in the northern Corsican town of Bastia attacked public buildings and threw projectiles at police on Sunday in the latest demonstration over an attack on a jailed nationalist at a mainland French prison. Colonna, a Corsican shepherd, is serving a life sentence for the 1998 murder of Claude Erignac, who as prefect of Corsica embodied the power of the French state on an island with a history of separatist violence. The attack left the Corsican militant in a coma and led to renewed calls for nationalist prisoners to be transferred from the French mainland to the island, closer to their families. Also read | France accuses Russia of 'lies' over Ukraine rights allegations Authorities have long rejected these demands, saying nationalist prisoners were special status prisoners. In a bid to ease tensions, Prime Minister Jean Castex last week removed this status for Colonna and two other detainees, members of the so-called "Erignac commando". But the move was seen as too little too late by Colonna’s supporters in Corsica. Watch | Russia-Ukraine Conflict: France warns world on war as NATO deploys rapid response force French prosecutors have also launched a terrorism investigation as Colonna's attacker was serving a nine-year sentence for planning terrorist attacks.

French interior minister heading for Corsica for talks after violent protests

French transport minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari has said that police has killed a man who attacked them with a knife at Paris' Gare du Nord station.

He had a 30-centimetre (12-inch) knife with the English slogan ACAB (All Cops Are Bastards) written on the blade.

A France Television journalist who was at the train station at the time posted a video of the incident on social media, in which two gunshots can be heard.

"The police used their firearms, thus eliminating all danger, both for themselves and for travellers," Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin wrote in a tweet.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-french-police-fire-tear-gas-as-convoy-enters-paris-over-50-people-arrested-452816">Watch: French police fire tear gas as convoy enters Paris; over 50 people arrested</a>

Gare du Nord is one of Europe's biggest train stations and home to international train services connecting to Britain and Belgium.

Worries over violent crime and terrorism are among key concerns for French voters, as people prepare to go to the polls for April's presidential election.

Security is set to be a crucial theme in the April 2022 presidential election, where President Emmanuel Macron is expected to seek a new term. His main challengers are on the right and far-right.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/man-dressed-as-ninja-shot-by-french-cops-after-attacking-two-policewomen-with-sword-433840">Also read |&nbsp;Man dressed as ninja shot by French cops after attacking two policewomen with sword</a>

Police representatives have for months been calling on the government to ensure better protection for police, who themselves have been under fire over allegations of racism.

Paris police chief Didier Lallement applauded the "courage of the police who reacted calmly to a cowardly attack".

Police union Alliance described the attacker as an "anti-police terrorist" who had targeted the police "with a knife in order to kill them".

"This shows again how the protectors of the Republic risk their lives in the street, outside a church or on a daily patrol in a station."

(With inputs from agencies)

French transport minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari has said that police has killed a man who attacked them with a knife at Paris' Gare du Nord station. He had a 30-centimetre (12-inch) knife with the English slogan ACAB (All Cops Are Bastards) written on the blade.

French transport minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari has said that police has killed a man who attacked them with a knife at Paris' Gare du Nord station. He had a 30-centimetre (12-inch) knife with the English slogan ACAB (All Cops Are Bastards) written on the blade. A France Television journalist who was at the train station at the time posted a video of the incident on social media, in which two gunshots can be heard. "The police used their firearms, thus eliminating all danger, both for themselves and for travellers," Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin wrote in a tweet. Watch: French police fire tear gas as convoy enters Paris; over 50 people arrested Gare du Nord is one of Europe's biggest train stations and home to international train services connecting to Britain and Belgium. Worries over violent crime and terrorism are among key concerns for French voters, as people prepare to go to the polls for April's presidential election. Security is set to be a crucial theme in the April 2022 presidential election, where President Emmanuel Macron is expected to seek a new term. His main challengers are on the right and far-right. Also read | Man dressed as ninja shot by French cops after attacking two policewomen with sword Police representatives have for months been calling on the government to ensure better protection for police, who themselves have been under fire over allegations of racism. Paris police chief Didier Lallement applauded the "courage of the police who reacted calmly to a cowardly attack". Police union Alliance described the attacker as an "anti-police terrorist" who had targeted the police "with a knife in order to kill them". "This shows again how the protectors of the Republic risk their lives in the street, outside a church or on a daily patrol in a station." (With inputs from agencies)

French police shoot dead knife-wielding man at Paris station

gerald-darmanin

Gerald Darmanin, News on Gerald Darmanin, stories on Gerald Darmanin, articles on Gerald Darmanin, Gerald Darmanin stories at Wion, Gerald Darmanin news, Gerald Darmanin latest news

gerald darmanin

France to tighten security for New Year celebrations due to 'very high' terror threat

French Interior Minister: Probe underway into recent violent unrest in Paris suburb

French interior minister heading for Corsica for talks after violent protests

French police shoot dead knife-wielding man at Paris station