France Ramps Up Security at Christmas Markets After Interior Minister Warns of 'Very High' Terror Threat

France is increasing security measures around Christmas markets after Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned that the terrorist threat level is 'very high' and instructed authorities to treat festive gatherings as high-risk targets.

In an urgent directive, Nunez asked state officials to mobilise intelligence services and coordinate with regional authorities to reinforce crowd-management plans, restrict vehicle access near major events and ensure comprehensive monitoring of relevant video-surveillance networks.

The instructions extend beyond police to include municipal leaders, private security firms, transport operators and volunteer organisations. The minister also called for police and military personnel to maintain a visible, deterrent presence in crowded public spaces.

Nunez referenced recent attacks on seasonal events, including last December’s deadly assault in Magdeburg, Germany, and the 2018 shooting in Strasbourg, underscoring the risk posed to markets and other festive gatherings.

The alert follows Paris’s surprise cancellation of its traditional New Year’s Eve concert on the Champs-Élysées. Officials had expected more than a million people to attend the live concert, but the city’s police chief advised against holding the event amid fears of crushes, stampedes and large-scale disorder.

Instead, Paris will broadcast a pre-recorded concert filmed at the Place de la Concorde, while the midnight fireworks from the Arc de Triomphe will proceed as planned. Last year, about 6,000 police officers and gendarmes were deployed around the avenue, with mandatory checkpoints to manage access — a presence authorities said was still insufficient to eliminate safety concerns.

The decision to cancel the live concert has drawn criticism across the political spectrum. Bruno Retailleau, leader of Les Républicains, described the move as capitulating to rising disorder, arguing that public celebrations are essential to national life. On the left, mayoral hopeful Emmanuel Grégoire called the cancellation a "failure of responsibility" and warned that repeatedly canceling large public events risks eroding civic spirit and Paris’s international reputation.

Some local officials defended the choice. Jeanne d’Hauteserre, mayor of Paris’s 8th arrondissement, said the avenue is ill-suited to host a concert crowd of that size and pointed to scuffles and risks to children during last year’s gathering. Security experts have long highlighted the Champs-Élysées as a problematic venue for extremely large crowds, particularly after thousands flooded the avenue to celebrate a major football victory this year — an event that led to clashes with police and hundreds of arrests.

Authorities say the heightened measures aim to strike a balance between protecting the public and preserving seasonal celebrations. Regional governments and event organisers are expected to publish specific security plans in the coming days as the holiday season approaches.