An “extremely important” device of “6,000” police officers and gendarmes will be deployed on Saturday and Sunday to ensure the security of the reopening ceremonies of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, at which around fifty heads of state and government are expected.
Speaking at a press conference, the Paris police prefect, Laurent Nuñez, announced that “6,000 people (police officers, gendarmes)” would be mobilized during these two days, like what had been made for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games at the end of July.
Mr. Nuñez reiterated that if there was no “clear threat” specifically targeting these ceremonies, they were held in a context of “very high level of terrorist threat”.
Soldiers from the Sentinel system will be mobilized and the fight against drones placed under the authority of the army. The river brigade of the police headquarters will also be called upon during these two days, as well as the BRI (research and intervention brigade) with snipers on high points.
Access to the Île de la Cité will be prohibited except for guests and service providers and traffic prohibited.
The first traffic restrictions will begin on Wednesday with the establishment of “five boxes” to accommodate a maximum of 40,000 people on the left bank high quays on Saturday.
The capacity of the cathedral is 3000 people.
Mr. Nuñez was surrounded by Mgr Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, rector of Notre-Dame, Patrick Bloche, first deputy to the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo and the mayor of Paris center Ariel Weil.
