France soldier attack raises questions on army's strain under emergency rule

Record ID: 905966

  • Title: France soldier attack raises questions on army's strain under emergency rule
  • Date: 10th August 2017
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (AUGUST 10, 2017) (REUTERS) PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEFENCE OF SOLDIERS' RIGHTS, JACQUES BESSY, TALKING TO JOURNALIST BESSY'S EYES (SOUNDBITE) (French) PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEFENCE OF SOLDIERS' RIGHTS, JACQUES BESSY, SAYING: "It's true that it ('Operation Sentinelle') is tiring and stressful because there is a repetitive side to it, and what's more the threat can come from anywhere. So even though when the soldiers patrol they see the whole population who, I would say, supports them and is looking to come into contact with them, there is a question of vigilance because the threat can come from anywhere." LEVALLOIS-PERRET, FRANCE (AUGUST 9, 2017) (REUTERS) SOLDIER HOLDING GUN NEAR SCENE WHERE SOLDIERS WERE EARLIER HIT AND INJURED BY A VEHICLE POLICE, POLICE VEHICLES AT SCENE IN FRONT OF APARTMENT BLOCK JUDICIAL POLICE AT SCENE SOLDIERS TALKING TO EACH OTHER PARIS, FRANCE (AUGUST 10, 2017) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (French) PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEFENCE OF SOLDIERS' RIGHTS, JACQUES BESSY, SAYING: "Without a doubt the Sentinelle's presence must be examined to refocus the security patrols on priority areas, such as train stations, certain places of passage where there are a lot of people, tourist sites, as well as certain places of worship. But above all we definitely have to refocus to perhaps reduce the number of soldiers who are present."
  • Embargoed: 24th August 2017 13:29
  • Keywords: Operation Sentinelle soldiers France military patrolling Levallois-Perret Orly airport Louvre attack
  • Location: PARIS, LEVALLOIS-PERRET & ORLY, FRANCE
  • City: PARIS, LEVALLOIS-PERRET & ORLY, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,International/National Security
  • Reuters ID: LVA0026TKQCZR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: An attack on a group of soldiers in a wealthy Paris suburb on Wednesday (August 9) has raised questions about the strain on the army under emergency rule, which has been in place in France since Islamist attacks in 2015.
    An Algerian national is suspected of ploughing into a group of soldiers as they began a morning patrol in the upscale neighbourhood of Levallois-Perret.
    Six of the soldiers were injured, three of them seriously.
    They were part of Operation Sentinelle, a 7,000-strong force launched in the wake of attacks on the editorial offices of Charlie Hebdo in January 2015.
    The attack was the sixth on troops belonging to the force, with opponents to the operation saying it is overstretching the army, reducing time between operational rotations, depriving regiments of time for training for foreign deployments and hurting morale. Some say the troops are sitting ducks for would-be militants.
    Supporters of Operation Sentinelle, which costs hundreds of millions of euros a year, say the force has served as a deterrent and given French citizens and tourists greater peace of mind.
    Jacques Bessy, president of the Association for the Defence of Soldiers' Rights, acknowledged the strains placed on the military but said the mission was essential.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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