The Louvre Museum and the Palace of Versailles in France reported that they evacuated visitors for security measures. Likewise, they will remain closed this Saturday and did not detail when they plan to reopen.
According to French media outlets such as Le Monde, the Louvre, the largest museum in the world, closed its doors at noon after receiving "a written message indicating a risk to the structure and its visitors," while a bomb threat was reported at the historic monument in Versailles.
"For security reasons, the Louvre museum closes its doors today, Saturday, October 14. People who have booked a visit for the same day will be refunded," the museum wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Similar was the message from the Palace of Versailles minutes later.
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
🇫🇷 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
Similarly, videos were published on social media showing that the Gare de Lyon train station in Paris was also evacuated.
#ÚLTIMAHORA | 🇫🇷 ALERTA EN FRANCIA: la estación de tren Gare de Lyon en París está siendo evacuada debido a una amenaza terrorista. pic.twitter.com/mVixFaxxZ2
— VOZ (@VozMediaUSA) October 14, 2023
The alert in France began this Friday after the murder of a teacher in a knife attack, according to Le Monde. The incident occurred on the premises of the Gambetta-Carnot institute in Arras, Pas de Calais. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin confirmed that a man was arrested at the scene and that they are investigating the incident.
The attacks coincided with former Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal’s call for protests throughout the Muslim world this Friday in support of the Palestinians and for the people of neighboring countries to join the fight against Israel.
