Shooting: Paris dept stores under heightened security

By

Matthieu Guinebault

Published
Jan 7, 2015

On the first day of France's semi-annual sales, Paris department stores have been placed under heightened security after the assassination of at least twelve people in the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo on the morning of 7 January.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls decided to increase security of its so-called Vigipirate program to "terrorist alert", the highest level in Paris and the Paris region, following the shooting, the Parisian press quickly reported to the AFP. "Offices of newspapers and magazines, department stores, places of worship and public transport" have been placed under enhanced protection," the Prime Minister's office announced

These measures have been in place since the attack, with the assassins and their accomplices still at large this afternoon. The prefecture does not dismiss the possibility of isolated attacks.

In addition to the usual measures of the Vigipirate plan, the "Alerte Attentat" (terrorist/assassination alert) also means that emergency services and law enforcement officials are on standby, bomb detection squads are on higher alert and security controls have been tightened. Not only have high pedestrian and tourist traffic areas been surrounded by an increased number of police and soldiers, department stores also have an increased police and military presence.