France to mobilize 11,000 police for Bastille Day ceremony
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| The US Air Force Thunderbirds fly over the Arc de Triomphe during a rehearsal of the traditional Bastille Day military parade in Paris, France, July 11, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] |
PARIS - France will mobilize thousands of servicemen to boost security during Bastille Day ceremony on July 14, the Paris prefecture said on Tuesday.
About 11,000 policemen and military police will be deployed in Paris and surrounding areas on the eve of the French national holiday. In addition, 2,000 firefighters will be mobilized for rescue operations, it added.
US President Donald Trump will attend the annual Bastille Day military parade.
Speaking to local media, Paris police chief Michel Delpuech called Trump's participation "a major challenge in the context of high-terror risk," adding that French and US security teams were working on ways to protect the US president.
Delpuech added access to the Champs Elysees will be protected by barriers to thwart vehicle attacks.
In 2016, a man drove a heavy truck into crowds celebrating Bastille Day in Nice. His truck ploughed 2 km through a mass of revelers before being stopped by police units. According to official data, 84 people were killed, including 10 kids, with 300 others wounded.
Over the past two years, France has been hit by a series of terror attacks.
