Louvre museum closes due to threat as France is put on high alert

14 October 2023 , 17:01

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The Louvre museum and underground shopping area is closed due to a threat (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

The Louvre Museum in Paris has been forced to close its doors because of a threat.

The government has put France on high security alert after a fatal school stabbing by a suspected extremist.

The Louvre communication service said no one was hurt and no incident was reported. Paris police said officers searched the museum after it received "written bomb threat".

The former royal palace at Versailles also received bomb threats, a national police spokesperson said. The palace and its sprawling gardens were being evacuated while police examine the area, the spokesperson said.

The Louvre evacuated all staff and visitors early on Saturday and closed its doors to the public because the attraction had received a "written threat" The reason for the sudden closure was said to be connected with the French government's decision which put the country on high alert. It followed a school stabbing where a teacher died after an attack thought be a 'suspected extremist'. The museum's communication service said no one had been hurt and the there was no incident, Police in the city were verifying the reason for the closure.

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Police officers stand guard outside the Louvre Museum as people are evacuated (AP)

The evacuation prompted alarms to sound across the world-renowned museum which is located in central Paris and overlooks the the River Seine. More alarms were also heard in shopping mall beneath museum's landmark pyramid. The monument was also taped off on each side while tourists and visitors to the attraction were seen streaming out of the shopping area.

Online videos were also posted showing people quickly leaving while others stopped to take photographs of the drama. Others appeared confused by what was going on and why they were being asked to leave. The threat alert level was raised by the French government which has increased security using 7,000 troops to increase after Friday's school attack. The former student, French authorities say is suspected of Islamic radicalization also wounded three others before he was captured

Police vehicles are seen as police officers stand guard outside the Louvre Museum as people are evacuated (AP)

The French government is worried about the Middle East war between Israel and Hamas after the group attacked Israel without warning leading to the death of thousands. The world-famous museum houses masterpieces including the Mona Lisa and attracts 30,000 and 40,000 visitors a day. After fears the Middle East conflict could lead to violence in capital cities France said it would deploy troops from Operation Sentinelle which its Elysee presidential palace said would be completed on Monday evening. Le Monde reports a spokeswoman for the Louvre, the largest museum in the world, said it had "received a written message stating that there was a risk to the museum and its visitors".

The Louvre in the centre of Paris was evacuated (AFP via Getty Images)

"We have decided in the current national context of an 'emergency attack' alert to evacuate and close it for the day, while we carry out the necessary checks," the spokeswoman said. The Mirror reported on Thursday Israelis are still being rescued alive by police and troops five days after Hamas militants launched a bloody and wide-ranging assault on Israel. Victims were found in areas surrounding Gaza that had been raided by Hamas. Police tracked them down using DNA samples and other sources in rescue missions to pluck them to safety.

A police officer stands guard outside the Louvre Museum after it received a written threat (AP)

The rescues have been hampered by victims being so terrified by what they have witnessed that they will not come out of their hiding places, even when police identify themselves. In a number of cases, victims were found trembling with fear and hiding in bushes having fled the Nova trance music festival outside Gaza.

Graeme Murray