A weekend under close surveillance.
Gérald Darmanin asked the prefects on Friday to "be particularly vigilant" or even to cancel the traditional pyrotechnic shows of August 15 due to "increased risks of fires" while France is faced with several large fires fanned by a historic drought.
"I ask you to examine, in close collaboration with the mayors concerned, the advisability of maintaining these demonstrations and to take, if necessary, at your level an administrative measure to ban these events", writes the Minister of Interior in a telegram consulted by AFP.
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The prefects must ensure that the mayors observe "a strict application of the regulatory provisions" governing fireworks, in particular "the climatic and meteorological conditions", the "choice of the site", the "safety distances" and the " mobilization of appropriate human and technical resources”.
An already significant number of prefectures (Gironde, Landes, Aveyron, Creuse, Corrèze, Drôme, Ardèche, Haute-Garonne, Vosges, Moselle, Côtes-d'Armor, Ille-et-Vilaine, Morbihan, Finistère, etc.) have already issued orders prohibiting the use of fireworks.
Persistence of the terrorist risk around churches
The Minister of the Interior also wants to “significantly” strengthen the surveillance of churches and offices on Monday on the occasion of the Catholic feast of the Assumption due to the “persistence of the terrorist risk”.
“I would like your attention to be particularly focused on the offices, gatherings, processions and pilgrimages” of August 15, writes the Minister of the Interior.
"The persistence of a high level of the terrorist threat requires the maintenance of strong vigilance vis-à-vis places of a religious nature", he justifies.
The soldiers of the "Sentinel" operation can also be deployed and "must be dissuasive and visible", adds Gérald Darmanin.
