France on High Alert after Stabbing Attack Prompts Louvre Museum Evacuation

Paris, France - The Louvre Museum was evacuated on Saturday morning after receiving a written threat, raising concerns of a potential terrorist attack. Louvre facilities immediately sounded alarms and ushered visitors and employees out of the iconic landmark. Police quickly surrounded the area and conducted a thorough search, while the country remained on high alert following a recent stabbing attack by a radicalized student.

The chilling incident occurred outside a school in Arras, a city located 115 miles north of Paris, near the border with Belgium. A Chechen immigrant, who was on France's extremist watch list, allegedly stabbed a teacher to death and injured two others. French President Emmanuel Macron described the attack as an “assassination” during a news briefing. The suspect is currently in custody, according to France's interior minister, Gerald Darmanin.

Authorities suspect terrorism as the motive behind the attack, which comes amidst the ongoing conflict in Israel. France's president emphasized the barbarism of Islamic terrorism and revealed that police had thwarted a second attempted attack following the stabbing incident. In response to the situation, Darmanin ordered a nationwide ban on demonstrations supporting the Palestinians.

The escalating tensions in the region have also affected the Louvre Museum, prompting its closure and evacuation. The decision was made in connection with the government's decision to raise the threat alert level. The French government has deployed 7,000 troops to enhance security measures across the country.

The Louvre Museum, renowned for housing masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, normally welcomes between 30,000 and 40,000 visitors per day. The institution's website offered apologies for the inconvenience caused by the closure, assuring those who booked tickets for the day that they would be reimbursed.

This is not the first time the Louvre Museum has faced security concerns. In 2017, a French soldier shot and injured a man wielding a machete, who attempted to enter the museum carrying two backpacks. Additionally, the famous Mona Lisa was temporarily obscured in 2020 when a protester smeared cream cake on the painting, expressing climate change concerns.

The tragic attack at the Gambetta high school in Arras sent shockwaves across the nation. A teacher lost their life, while at least two others sustained serious injuries. Social media videos depicted individuals attempting to stop the assailant, including one person using a chair to shield themselves. Prompt police intervention led to the evacuation of the school and the subsequent arrest of the attacker.

The suspect, reportedly a Chechen man, had previously attended the high school, raising concerns among his former teachers about his radicalization. French President Macron commended the slain teacher, stating that their actions had undoubtedly saved numerous lives. The National Assembly suspended its session in response to the attack.

France's counterterrorism agency has opened an investigation into the incident, treating it as a murder and attempted murder with a terrorist motive. The country, which houses the largest populations of both Muslims and Jews in Europe, was already on high alert due to global protests called by Hamas, following Israel's airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. At least 24 people have been charged with acts of antisemitism since the Hamas attack last week.