The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for British nationals travelling to France to include a warning about a “high threat from terrorism”.
Along with warnings about the high number of illegal immigrants in and around Calais, and reminding travellers to remember their free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), the Foreign Office warns of the threat of indiscriminate terrorist attacks on French soil, saying:
“There is a high threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate. Due to ongoing threats to France by Islamist groups, and recent French military intervention against ISIL, the French government has warned the public to be extra vigilant and reinforced its own domestic and overseas security measures. Previous incidents, attributed to Islamist extremists, have included the shooting of 3 soldiers and 4 civilians in Toulouse, and a knife attack on a soldier near Paris.”
The warning comes after the Islamic State called on its followers abroad to launch attacks in France after Paris joined the US-led coalition and began air strikes against IS positions in Iraq. In a statement widely shared across social media, IS told it followers:
“If you can kill a disbelieving American or European – especially the spiteful and filthy French – or an Australian, or a Canadian, or any other disbeliever from the disbelievers waging war, including the citizens of the countries that entered into a coalition against the Islamic State, then (do so)”
According to The Local, French authorities have stepped up security at airports, train stations, and well-known tourist destinations and shopping centres across the country in response to the threat from IS.