The Eiffel Tower will soon be protected by bulletproof glass walls 7 feet tall as part of a plan to prevent attacks at the monument, Parisian authorities said on Thursday.
The walls, costing $25M, will be built later this year at the northern and southern ends of the landmark, the city said in a statement. On the western and eastern sides, “inelegant temporary” barriers that were thrown up around the 324-meter tower during last year’s Euro 2016 football tournament will be replaced by ornate fencing.
Deputy mayor Jean-Francois Martins told a news conference: “The terror threat remains high in Paris, and the most vulnerable sites, starting with the Eiffel Tower, must be the object of special security measures.”
The glass walls will prevent individuals or vehicles storming the site, which is visited by six million people a year, he added.
Some politicians quoted by Le Parisien newspaper said they feared the walls would turn the tower into a “fortress”. They feared it could turn off tourists who simply want to have their pictures snapped under the tower without visiting the Iron Lady. Martins said visitors would continue to have access to the foot of the tower – after undergoing security checks – free of charge.
I hope they're elegant walls. Those inelegant barriers.....so gauche.
ReplyDeleteThat is truly sad. Why not step up the surveillance and imprison them for life. Glad I went in 96 when times were better.
ReplyDeleteMy niece is wanting to go there in June. I'm like, girl..... too dangerous. Plus she needs to come back w all her organs.
ReplyDeleteVery unfortunate, extremely depressing... I too,am happy I was able to get there several times in my life and experience that way it is meant to be ----freely and with a wonderment and abandon. It's a miraculous museum
ReplyDeleteWhen you let snakes into your home, don't be surprised to get bitten.
ReplyDeleteAmen Marlo
ReplyDeleteAmen Marlo is right!!! Let's hope that we can take preventative measures here in the US.
ReplyDeleteIn France they are going to need them. Just a matter of time.
ReplyDeleteSo sad. Unfortunately an attacker will always finds a way.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid it's too late to close the barn door. Glad I at least got to see Italy and Greece.
ReplyDeleteFrance sleepwalked into this mess a long, long time before Germany did. There's already no-go zones for women and non-muslims in Paris. This is what Europe is like now.
ReplyDeleteYep. There are- and I happened upon several of them years ago when living there(not just Paris but Nice,Cannes,Marseilles )and was lucky:(don't love that word for this), but I was --- fortunate ,I'll say that. Doesn't matter how kind ,courteous, respectful and polite one is--- when systematically and instantly deemed ---evil, one is most definitely made to feel- unwelcom or unsafe on multiple levels
ReplyDeleteMy first visit to Paris was last May, my trip had been arranged before the Bataclan attack. I was on my own for 3 days and then I joined a tour that visited Normandy and the Loire Valley. During my time in Paris I used the bus and metro for the majority of my transportation around the city. There were small teams of roving military at several, but not all, tourist sites. I criss-crossed the city during my visit and walked for miles in a variety of neighborhoods. I did not feel unsafe at any time. I was cautious, but no more than I would have been in any other big city. I very glad I went, I have wonderful memories of France.
ReplyDeleteI am more concerned about travelling now under the uncertainty of the behavior of the current administration and the potential reactions from around the world.
Those Amish people are such a pain in the ass aren't they?
ReplyDeleteYet the leftists here want to invite them over here.
ReplyDeleteMuch of it is France's ban on anyone, of any religion, of wearing their clothing that is religion related. So, no collars for Catholic priests, no habits for nuns, no hajibs for Muslim women. France is an equal opportunity in this regard. Also, the immigrant Muslims are marginalized in France. They live in hovels, are poor, and have great difficulty gaining employment.
ReplyDeleteFrance's position of opposite that of the United States. People have freedom of dress, are welcomed into society, can work, can find adequate housing. The United States is a great nation. Let's hope Darth Cheetoh has a short time in his position.
This is exactly why I'm mystified by the snowflakes who object to President Trump's attempts to vet refugees from countries known to harbor terrorists. It is NOT a Muslim ban; 87% of predominantly Muslim countries are unaffected by the executive order. Good grief, would you allow a group of complete strangers to move into your home? Then why allow them to move into your country?
ReplyDeleteIf you scroll up like- right above you- you'll see my personal account which is one of many I m certain... I never had a problem because I was fortunate while living there (single for a bit)- and I was stalked and harassed , and tainted. I'm not a priest With a collet or anyone of religious identification- I am simply different/non Muslim which is all one needs to be to be targeted or "infidel". I am not sure where you live or what luxury you are afforded to have the uniformed,false bravado you are espousing Hortensia,but the backwater,inaccurate and frankly -irresponsible (both factually and morally) shite you are saying is unfortunate.
ReplyDeleteTaunted.
ReplyDeleteI also lived within tma community in France comprised of many Muslims (married to a Bosnian born/French raised one), so I have a bit of a clue... I also think 13 years ago even though post 9/11 dies not come close to this imminent danger zone.Simple freakin facts
And go radio silent when attacks on our soil go down because by you lacked the spine to circumvent or at the very least -address it with the deserved due gravity/importance as witnessed in the last-several years ..we'll say
ReplyDeleteHortensia - STOP TALKING SHITE!
ReplyDeleteIn France priests DO wear their work attire, including collars and robes, as do nuns DO wear habits, you lying liar.
You keep repeating this stuff as if it's a fact, when in fact it is not.
Nuns don't potentially hide explosive belts under their habits, and their faces aren't covered.
I go to France all the time for work and people like you, spreading untruths to defend this horrendous death cult, are part of the problem.
Also priests and nuns go into that line of work by their owen free will, while little girls as young as 6 are being told to cover up, or they might stir up sexual feelings in poor innocent pedo rapists. Unless you think women love dressing like garbage bags for their entire lives when in public, you got some serious mental issues.
Stop lying!
Tricia - stop believing the propaganda useful idiots such as Hortensia (who has never left her village corner i presume) are spreading.
ReplyDeleteThere is no such thing as a band in France of religious garments.
Stalin & Hitler would be proud of her. She's the type who'd believe and repeat everything.
Well obviously you don't know what you are talking about Hortensia. I am French living in Paris . I ve worked my way up . Working little jobs to pay my studies rent and everything. It was hard but if I managed it as a black female with an african name and surname I think anyone can do it. For your information clerics can wear their religious habits , the Christian ones , Muslim ones, Buddhist ones... but at university I couldn't weär ostensibly my pendant cross because you re not supposed to "show off" your religion . So if the laïc law works for me it should work for everyone. This is the way you are to integrate society . Not by showing your differences but by showing your common point. We are all individuals , different but all driven with our love to the welcoming country. If you don't like it here just go back to your shithole and leave us alone .
ReplyDeleteYeah beacuse that's the solution, build more walls instead of dealing with the problem at its roots.
ReplyDeleteSomebody has an interest to spend money and keep people in fear instead of working on solutions.
( higher up)
@Marlo, +1,000,000
ReplyDelete