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After the knife attack in Nice, which left three dead, France increased the protection of schools and places of worship. In several countries, thousands are protesting against President Macron’s statements about cartoons critical of religion.
Bangladesh: Members and supporters of various Islamist political parties hold up a photo of Macron as they participate in an anti-French protest after prayers on Friday.
Photo: Monirul Alam (Keystone)
French Army Minister Florence Parly announced on Friday that she will strengthen the protection of schools and places of worship. Soldiers from the national anti-terror mission “Sentinelle” are also deployed for this purpose. Army Minister Florence Parly announced on Friday following the meeting of a Defense Council headed by Head of State Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
7,000 security forces are being mobilized, including 3,500 gendarmerie reservists belonging to the armed forces, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin added. There will be a special reinforcement with 120 policemen for the Mediterranean metropolis of Nice. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced that French institutions abroad, such as schools, would also be protected. “The threat is everywhere,” he said.
A Tunisian who entered illegally on Thursday killed three people in Nice with a knife, according to investigators; Two victims were found in the Notre-Dame church in the city center. The attacker was seriously injured by the police and was taken to a hospital. The act had caused horror and sympathy throughout the world. Mayor Christian Estrosi announced that the church could possibly reopen over the weekend.
No more terrorist attacks can be ruled out
Investigators detained a 47-year-old man. He is said to have had contact with the attacker on the eve of the event, judicial circles from the German press agency confirmed. France declared the highest level of terrorism warning after the attack.
Interior Minister Darmanin did not rule out further attacks. “We are at war,” he said on RTL. The country is fighting an “Islamist ideology”. Unfortunately, you have to accept that more acts are possible. In recent weeks, 14 radicalized foreigners have been expelled. The civil right and the far right Rassemblement National (formerly: Front National) started a debate on immigration after the bloody act.
Italy
The attack is already sparking heated political debates in Italy. Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese denied allegations that Italian authorities could be partly responsible for the attack in the southern French coastal city.
At the same time, he confirmed in Rome that the Tunisian terrorist suspect had entered the European Union in Italy more than a month ago. Previously, the right-wing opposition around his predecessor, Lega leader Matteo Salvini, accused the center-left government of an overly lax immigration policy. Salvini called for Lamorgeses’ resignation because, according to previous information, the murderer was able to travel unnoticed from Italy to France.
“There is no responsibility on our side,” Lamorgese said. According to her, the suspect arrived on September 20 on a migrant boat to the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa. He received an expulsion on October 9, which he ignored. Neither the Tunisian authorities nor the secret services had warned Italy of the dangers posed by the man.
Thousands of people in demonstrations
Aus Thousands of people took to the streets in Afghanistan to protest Macron’s remarks about cartoons critical of religion. In the capital Kabul alone, there were 2,000 protesters, observers reported Friday.
Indonesia: Protesters step on a defaced Macron poster in Medan, North Sumatra.
Photo: Dedi Sinuhaji (Keystone)
Bangladesh: Anti-French protests in front of the Baitul Mukarram mosque in Dhaka.
Photo: Monirul Alam (Keystone)
Pakistan: Thousands of people took to the streets in Lahore to demonstrate against Macron.
Photo: Keystone
Therefore, the protesters called for the severing of diplomatic relations with Paris and the boycott of French products. Thousands also protested in the western province of Herat.
After the beheading of a French teacher, Macron had defended freedom of expression and the publication of cartoons critical of religion. The teacher had shown cartoons of Muhammad in class as an example of freedom of expression. The Afghan government has yet to make an official statement on the matter.
Protests on the Temple Mount
Many devout Muslims gathered on the Temple Mount (Al-Haram al-Sharif / The Noble Sanctuary) in the old city of Jerusalem, one of the holiest places in Islam, after Friday prayers. Ikrima Sabri, head of the Palestinian Supreme Islamic Council, called for a “day of anger” on Friday. Here too, dem Macron accused of violating the religious sentiments of Muslims.
Also in the Gaza Strip, the ruling Hamas organized protest demonstrations with hundreds of participants. The Hamas leadership called on Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims around the world to boycott France.
Facing protesters in the Jebalia refugee camp, Hamas leader Fathi Hammad shouted: “The Arab and Islamic world must unite against this criminal attack on our prophet.” Hammad said: “The abuse of our prophet Muhammad by France violates the faith of two billion Muslims in the world.”
Tunisia launches an investigation
Tunisian authorities are also investigating the man. Under the country’s law, any Tunisian who is involved in acts of terrorism will be prosecuted, regardless of whether they are at home or abroad, said a Tunisian judicial spokesman.
According to the Arab news channel Al-Arabija, the man, born in 1999, comes from a town near the Tunisian coastal city of Sfax. The mother told the station that her son called her that week and said he had traveled to France. She knew nothing of his plans. The attacker’s brother told the station that he had said he wanted to spend the night in front of the church. He also sent her a photo from there.
