No less than 6,000 police and military personnel will be mobilized for the reopening of the cathedral to the public.
On the occasion of the reopening of Notre-Dame, on December 7 and 8, the Paris police prefect, Laurent Nuñez, will deploy a security system similar to that put in place at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, on July 26 along the Seine. No less than 6,000 police and military personnel will be mobilized to watch over the public in the perimeter of the square and the cathedral, ensure the protection of public transport, hold traffic points as well as the protection of around fifty heads of state and of government.
Described as “absolutely exceptional» with regard to «fairly small space» celebrations, the system will be reinforced by anti-drone means, snipers placed on “points hauts» while the research and intervention brigade (BRI) will be prepositioned, ready to act in the event of a serious alert. The river brigade will also be deployed, as will a “very large” contingent of deminers responsible for the detection and presence of explosive devices.
Anti-terrorism security perimeter
From Saturday 7 a.m. to 7 a.m. to Sunday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., a vast anti-terrorist security perimeter will be set up around the religious building. The square will not be open to the public. Traffic will be cut off on the left bank from this Wednesday at 12 p.m. in order to install five boxes with a capacity of 40,000 places, intended to welcome the public from Saturday at 3 p.m. Traders will have to lower the curtain on the island of the city, where traffic and parking will be prohibited. and the booksellers
“Five years after the fire that ravaged the building before the eyes of the whole world, the cathedral, symbol of Paris and its grandeur, will reopen its doors”welcomed the police headquarters. A weekend of official ceremonies is scheduled for next Saturday. It will begin with a Republican sequence at 7 p.m., marked by a speech by the President of the Republic, before the religious celebration and the revival of the organ at 7:40 p.m.
Without delay, Mgr Olivier Ribadeau-Dumas, rector of the cathedral, welcomed the approach of this “strong moment of unity, prayer and gratitude».
