Louvre and Palace of Versailles Evacuated After Bomb Threats Amid France Terror Alert

On October 14, 2023, the Louvre Museum in Paris closed its doors and evacuated visitors after receiving a written threat. A spokesperson told AFP the museum chose to close for the day to allow security checks. Shortly after, the Palace of Versailles also received a bomb threat, forcing evacuation and closure. These actions follow the French government raising the Vigipirate security protocol to its highest level, "emergency attack," after a fatal stabbing at a school in Arras by a former student of Chechen origin. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin linked the attack to the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel. The closures come days before the opening of Paris+, the Art Basel fair at the Grand Palais Éphémère, raising concerns about the event's security and attendance. The article questions whether the heightened alert will impact the fair and other cultural events in the short and medium term.