Reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris: 6,000 police officers and gendarmes mobilized, announces the police prefect

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 done 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 where the cathedral is located 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 cathedral can accommodate 3,000 people.

Built more than 600 years before the Eiffel Tower, the cathedral is among the most visited buildings in Europe, with 12 million people in 2017 and “14 to 15 million” expected by the Diocese after its reopening.