President Hollande has praised the quick thinking and bravery of the French soldier who opened fire on a terrorist attempting to perpetrate an attack at the Louvre: "This operation prevented an attack whose terrorist nature leaves little doubt". The attacker, a 29 Egyptian man in Paris on a tourist visa, was challenged when he attempted to enter the shopping centre beneath the gallery with several bags. The assailant shouted "Allahu Akbar" and drew a machete. Four soldiers attempted to subdue him using non-violent methods, but after one soldier sustained injuries they were forced to open fire and the terrorist was hit in the abdomen and is now recovering in hospital. No explosives were found amongst his possessions. The event has triggered several raids across the city.
The Louvre is one of the cities most visited attractions, being home to the finest art and sculpture in the world. The gallery has seen a dip in visitors since the atrocities of the Bataclan shootings and Charlie Hebdo attacks. The city has been on high alert since January 2015. The Louvre was prepared for such incidents with the thousand visitors present in the gallery being held in secure areas until the threat was passed, then slowly evacuated through security check points.
A group of British student were caught up in the fallout of the attack. Sixth form pupils of Surrey’s Godalming College were kept safe in a locked basement. Approximately sixty students from the college were in the Gallery and the college reacted promptly to notify parents of their safety. A statement from the school said: "Godalming College can confirm that a group of students and staff, who are in Paris on a History of Art trip, were at the Louvre this morning at the time of the incident. We are pleased to report that all the students and staff are safe. The College are in constant communication with the Trip Organisers, who are following advice of the local authorities and the Foreign Office. We have provided updates to parents."
HandsamSchoolTripsAdvisor has information on security and terrorism considerations for school visits. You can also explore our country specific guidance which provides information about what to consider before visiting. Also, find out more about our Emergency Response Service for use in the event of a serious incident.
