William Molinie
modified to
5:33 p.m., December 12, 2022
The Minister of the Interior sent instructions to the prefects on Monday to secure the Christian and Jewish holidays for this end of the year. Faced with the level of terrorist threat, Gérald Darmanin indeed demands “strong vigilance” from the authorities and “a physical presence” and “on foot” in front of all places of worship.
The terrorist threat level is described as “very high”. In a telegram sent on Monday to the prefects, the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin demands “strong vigilance” from the authorities for the Jewish holidays of Hanukkah, from December 18 to 26, and for the Christian Christmas holidays, the night of December 24. December for Catholics, Armenian Christmas on January 6 and Orthodox Christmas on January 7.
A “visible static presence”
The department prefects must now ask the police and gendarmerie services to approach the leaders of the cult for an “assessment of the situation”. Police and gendarmes will have to pay “special attention” to vehicles parked near places of assembly or worship. A “visible static presence” is also requested during gatherings and services.
The municipal police and the Sentinel military force will also be mobilized. In a handwritten message, at the end of the telegram that Europe 1 consulted, Gérald Darmanin indicates that he wishes “the physical presence, on foot, and generalized in front of all places of worship on the occasion of these religious holidays”.