PARIS — France has stepped up its vigilance against terror threats, a top official announced Monday amid reports of various new threats, including one against the Paris transport network.
“The terrorist threat is real and today our vigilance, therefore, is reinforced,” Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux said during a visit to the Seineet-Marne region east of Paris. He did not elaborate on the additional security measures taken.
In the past few days, there has been a false bomb alert at the Eiffel Tower and five French workers and two African colleagues were kidnapped in Niger, part of the African turf of al-Qaida-in the-Islamic-Maghreb.
Last week, the Senate voted to ban burqa-style Islamic veils in France, a subject that has prompted warnings by al-Qaida’s Maghreb group.
Armed guards have been assigned to the rector of the Grande Mosque of Paris, the prominent moderate Dalil Boubakeur, since Friday, because of a new threat.
Front Section, Pages 5 on 09/21/2010