Louvre Museum, Versailles Palace Evacuated Amid Islamist Bomb Threat

The world-famous Louvre Museum and the Palace of Versailles in Paris have been evacuated and shut down on Saturday after reportedly receiving bomb threats amid rising tensions over the Israeli-Palestine conflict.

“Dear visitors, for security reasons, the Musée du Louvre is closing its doors today, Saturday, October 14. Those who have booked a visit during the day will be reimbursed. Thank you for your understanding,” the museum stated from its X account.

Chers visiteurs,

Pour des raisons de sécurité, le musée du #Louvre ferme ses portes ce jour, samedi 14 octobre.
Les personnes ayant réservé pour une visite dans la journée seront remboursées.

Nous vous remercions de votre compréhension. pic.twitter.com/2cEllnWCIa

— Musée du Louvre (@MuseeLouvre) October 14, 2023

About 3,000 people were evacuated from the building.

“A security guard asked us to leave very quickly,” one visitor told Le Parisien.

Une vidéo de l’évacuation du Louvre.#louvre #attentat #Gaza #Israel #Mbappé https://t.co/cLyKmUP6eB pic.twitter.com/SGKiNAKVcf

— Media du peuple (@Media_DuPeuple) October 14, 2023

“We have chosen to evacuate it and close it for the day, while we carry out the essential checks,” said a spokesperson after the closure was announced.

A few hours later, the Palace of Versailles – the former residence of the French Royal Family – issued a statement that it was also evacuated after receiving its own bomb threat.

“Dear visitors, for security reasons, the Palace of Versailles is evacuating visitors and closing its doors today, Saturday October 14. We thank you for your understanding,” the Palace wrote on X.

🇫🇷 Chers visiteurs,
Pour des raisons de sécurité, le château de Versailles évacue les visiteurs et ferme ses portes ce jour, samedi 14 octobre.
Nous vous remercions de votre compréhension. pic.twitter.com/7dAahlL4bj

— Château de Versailles (@CVersailles) October 14, 2023

NOW – Palace of Versailles in Paris is evacuated. Bomb threat.pic.twitter.com/7YabgZRyU4

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) October 14, 2023

BREAKING:

The Palace of Versailles near Paris is now being evacuated due to a terrorist threat.

Via @FranceNews24 pic.twitter.com/qdCf7WviGN

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 14, 2023

A source told Le Parisien that the bomb threat came from an anonymous message on the site moncommissariat.fr , and that the monument would not reopen today.

This comes as France announced Saturday it would mobilize 7,000 soldiers a day after a teacher was fatally stabbed and three others wounded by a suspected radical Islamist outside a school in Arras.

From The Associated Press:

Counterterrorism authorities are investigating the stabbing, and the suspected assailant and several others are in custody, prosecutors said. The suspect had been under recent surveillance by intelligence services for radicalization. Court documents viewed by The Associated Press show he is from the Ingushetia region in Russia’s Caucasus Mountains, which neighbors Chechnya. Authorities had initially identified him as Chechen.

The French government heightened the national threat alert, and President Emmanuel Macron ordered up to 7,000 soldiers deployed by Monday night and until further notice to bolster security and vigilance around France, his office said. The “attack emergency” threat posture allows the government to temporarily mobilize the military to protect public places among other measures.

The attacker’s exact motive remains unclear, and he is reportedly refusing to speak to investigators.

The attacker, identified as Mohamed Mogouchkov, was reportedly under deportation order from 2014 and under an extremist watch list, but pro-migrant groups blocked his removal, allowing him to remain in France.

The assassination came amid calls by former Hamas leader Khalid Mashal for Muslims to mobilize for a global jihadist uprising against Israel and the West on Friday October 13.

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