The French government has ordered a significant security reinforcement at Christmas markets across the nation, responding to what it describes as a 'very high' terrorist threat. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez issued a directive to regional officials, mandating a full mobilisation of intelligence services to detect, prevent, and where possible, thwart potential attacks during the festive season.
Enhanced Security Measures for Festive Events
In a memo circulated to local authorities, Minister Nunez called for extra vigilance in managing pedestrian traffic to optimise protection and control. The guidelines require local officials to implement orders that prohibit or restrict parking and vehicular access around large-scale events. Furthermore, the plan stipulates a noticeable increase in video surveillance to monitor crowds.
Nunez emphasised that these protocols apply to all actors in the security chain, including local elected officials, private security firms, transport operators, and event associations. The move is a direct response to a series of terror incidents across Europe, notably the 2018 Strasbourg Christmas market attack, where an Islamist extremist killed five people and injured eleven others using a knife and a revolver.
A New, Unpredictable Generation of Terrorists
The security escalation comes amid stark warnings from intelligence agencies about the evolving nature of the threat. According to a report last month by the newspaper Le Monde, France is confronting a new generation of terrorists who are more impulsive and harder to detect than their predecessors.
Intelligence data indicates a troubling trend: two-thirds of terror attacks since 2020 were executed by individuals not previously flagged as potential threats. This shift towards unpredictability is compounded by the digital savviness of younger recruits, who are better at concealing their online activities, thus complicating detection efforts for authorities.
The report also highlights a worrying demographic, noting that 70% of the 37 individuals arrested for jihadist terror plots since 2023 were under the age of 21, with some as young as 15. Since the start of 2025, French security forces have already thwarted six planned attacks, with the ages of those implicated ranging from 17 to 22.
A Nation Still Healing from Past Atrocities
The heightened security measures are set against a backdrop of a nation still recovering from devastating past attacks. Last month, survivors of the November 2015 Bataclan and coordinated Paris attacks reflected on rebuilding their lives a decade after the atrocities that claimed 130 lives.
These personal stories of loss and resilience underscore the persistent trauma and the ongoing need for robust security. The UK Foreign Office currently advises that terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in France, referencing a history of knife attacks, shootings, bombings, and vehicle assaults.
The French interior ministry's proactive stance aims to prevent any repeat of such violence, ensuring the country's cherished festive traditions can proceed with maximum safety for all visitors and residents.
