Hall of the Louvre Museum, credit: Mbzt via Wikipedia
The Louvre Museum underwent an evacuation on Saturday morning due to bomb threats. Alarms resonated throughout the museum, including the subterranean shopping center beneath its renowned glass structure crafted by architect I.M. Pei.
The Paris establishment reported that no injuries were reported, no actual incidents occurred, and law enforcement officers conducted a thorough search of the museum.
The museum's official website displayed a conspicuous red banner announcing, "For security reasons, the Musée du Louvre is closing its doors today, Saturday, October 14. Visitors with reservations for the day will receive refunds. We appreciate your understanding." This identical message also appeared on the museum's social media platforms.
Earlier this year, the Louvre disclosed its intention to cap daily visitor numbers at 30,000 to enhance the visitor experience and ensure an optimal working environment for museum staff. Before the onset of the pandemic, the Louvre could accommodate as many as 45,000 visitors daily.
Simultaneously, Versailles Palace also witnessed an evacuation of both visitors and staff on Saturday, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the national police. The French government heightened its security measures after a tragic incident on October 13, wherein an assailant fatally stabbed a teacher and injured three others at a high school in the northern city of Arras.
This unfortunate event prompted the French government to swiftly deploy 7,000 troops by Monday night to bolster security across the nation. Additionally, the national threat alert level was raised to "attack emergency," granting the government temporary authority to mobilize the military for safeguarding public spaces.
Jean Dubreil