France's 'Operation Sentinel' to undergo HUGE changes to adapt to developing terror threat
FRANCE'S 'Sentinel' counter-terrorism operation will undergo profound changes to adapt the ever-changing threat, the country's defence minister has said.
Florence Parly said the military operation will continue for as long as necessary
Florence Parly said the military operation will continue for as long as necessary while the country faces the increased threat of an attack.
Mrs Parly said: “Sentinel soldiers will continue to patrol the streets for as long as France needs to protect its citizens from terrorism.
“The security operation will most likely be of long duration. Our aim, however, if we wish the operation to be a success, is to continually adapt it to changing conditions and evolving threats to our security."
Operation Sentinel was launched in the wake of the Paris attacks on the office of Charlie Hebdo
Sentinel soldiers will continue to patrol the streets for as long as France needs to protect its citizens from terrorism
Launched in the wake of the Paris attacks on the office of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket in January 2015, Operation Sentinel, in which armed troops patrol busy streets and protect key sites – including churches, mosques and tube stations – is the first large-scale military operation on mainland France.
There are currently 7,000 French soldiers participating in the round-the-clock security operation.
There are currently 7,000 French soldiers in the round-the-clock security operation
“There have been a number of failed terrorists attacks in Paris these last few months, and most have been prevented thanks to Sentinel soldiers,” Mrs Parly added.
The defence minister mentioned the attempted knife attack on soldiers guarding the Louvre Museum in Paris in February, as well the failed attack at Paris Orly airport in March, whereby soldiers killed a man who tried to seize a soldier’s rifle.
A 19-year-old tried to breach security at the Eiffel Tower on Saturday night
She also mentioned the knife-brandishing 19-year-old who tried to breach security at the Eiffel Tower on Saturday night, later telling police he had wanted to “attack a soldier”.
It has since emerged that the suspect, who is listed on the government’s official terrorism watch list, has a history of mental illness.