Lagatar24 Desk
Strasbourg: In a tense prelude to the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, the Franco-Swiss Basel-Mulhouse EuroAirport was evacuated for security reasons on Friday. This development follows a series of arson attacks that disrupted France’s high-speed rail network earlier in the day.
The airport announced the evacuation on its website, stating, “For safety reasons, the terminal had to be evacuated and is currently closed.” The authorities have assured that further information will be provided as the situation unfolds.
This incident is not the first of its kind for French airports. Late last year, EuroAirport and several other French airports were evacuated due to a wave of fake bomb threats. Located near Basel on the French side of the border, EuroAirport served eight million passengers in 2023.
The evacuation has added to the mounting security concerns as French authorities continue to investigate the arson attacks that have paralyzed the high-speed train network, affecting hundreds of thousands of travelers. The disruptions come just hours before the much-anticipated opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, set to commence Friday evening.
French authorities are on high alert, ensuring that all necessary security measures are in place for the safety of the public and participants. The heightened security measures reflect the broader concern for safety at high-profile events, especially given the historical context of threats during large international gatherings.