French PM says Belgium should not be singled out for blame
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France’s prime minister says Europe has turned a blind eye to mounting extremism in its cities.
Speaking on french radio the day after the Brussels attacks, Manuel Valls said Belgium should not be singled out for blame.
“We closed our eyes — everywhere in Europe including France — to the progression of extremist ideas, Salafism, neighbourhoods which through a combination of drug trafficking and radical Islamism perverted, and I’ll use this word again, a part of the youth”
Valls added that he thinks Europe is at war.
“It’s another war because terrorism, this terrorism, Islamic State, wants to destroy us, wants to destroy men and women, but it also wants to destroy our way of life. The attacks in Paris, like in Brussels, they target people sitting on cafe terraces, catching aeroplanes, getting the metro”
France has announced further security measures, particularly regarding safety in public places like stations.
On the streets of Paris, there is resignation.
“Sadly, this is part of our daily lives now,” said one man. “Sadly I think it will happen again; I do not know where but everyone should stay vigilant to make sure it does not happen again”
Valls also said there is no risk this summer’s Euro 2016 tournament in France will be cancelled.