Major French landmarks evacuated after 'written threats' made after stabbing of teacher to death in Arras

14 October 2023, 15:18 | Updated: 14 October 2023, 23:34

The Louvre, Gare-de-Lyon and the Palace of Versaille were evacuated on Saturday after a 'written threat' was made in the wake of the terrorist attack in Arras that saw a teacher stabbed to death.

The Louvre museum in Paris was evacuating all visitors and staff and closing early on Saturday after it received a written threat. The Louvre will reopen on Sunday after no bomb was found.

The Gare-de-Lyon terminus and the Palace of Versailles were evacuated later on Saturday.

Scenes from the Gare-de-Lyon train station in Paris saw panicked passengers hurrying out of the door.

The move was saids to be linked to the government's decision to put France on high alert after a fatal school stabbing by a suspected extremist.

The Louvre communication service said no one has been hurt and no incident had been reported.

Alarms rang out through the vast museum in central Paris overlooking the Seine River when the evacuation was announced, and in the underground shopping centre beneath its signature pyramid.

Police cordoned off the monument from all sides, and the underground access, as tourists and other visitors streamed out.

Videos posted online showed people leaving, some hurriedly and some stopping to take photos, others apparently confused about what was happening.

The French government raised the threat alert level and is deploying 7,000 troops to increase security after Friday's school attack.

The government is also concerned about fallout in France from the war between Israel and Hamas.

The Louvre, home to masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa, welcomes between 30,000 and 40,000 visitors per day.