Francois Hollande has called on reservists to boost security in the wake of the attack in Nice.
Francois Hollande has called on reservists to boost security in the wake of the attack in Nice.
Announcing the news at a gendarme training camp, the president said the new recruits alongside current reservists could form the basis of a National Guard.
“I have chosen to call up all the men and women who, at the same time as their studies or professional choices, have chosen to sign up to protect the French, I’m talking about you. So we already have available 12-thousand reservists from the military police and the police”.
Hollande added that the counter-terror operation Sentinel would be maintained with an addition 10 thousand soldiers added to the military police.
The country has been on high alert for 19 months. The head of the police union said that the forces were exhausted both mentally and physically.
The summer presented particularly high risk events such as the Euro 2016 football championship and the Tour de France, both subject to Islamist threats.
In light of the ongoing security threat, many events in Paris have been cancelled including the pedestrianisation of the Champs Elysee, open-air cinema, and a basketball tournament on Quai 54.
Après #Nice, la PPP annule plusieurs évènements à Paris: la piétonisation des Champs-Elysées, le festival du ciné… pic.twitter.com/2pMepT8nXR
— Jérémie Pham-Lê (@jpham_le) July 20, 2016