Louvre promenade reopens after brief evacuation ahead of Macron event

The promenade in front of the Louvre Museum was briefly evacuated and later reopened Sunday ahead of an election night event there for the centrist French presidential candidate, police announced.


Paris police spokesperson earlier told EFE that a security perimeter was being established as part of a "verification" operation ahead of Emmanuel Macron's election event later in the evening.

"End of verifications, return to normal," said a tweet on the Paris Prefecture's page.

Sources from Macron's campaign had told EFE that the evacuation happened after police dogs detected "suspicious bags" as part of a routine security check.

The decision to evacuate the area was taken as a precaution, the spokesperson said.

A witness told EFE that the security perimeter was expanding and almost reached the bank of the River Seine.

Sunday's second and final round of the presidential election in which Macron was running against National Front (FN) candidate Marine Le Pen was taking place amid tightened security.
  [EFE/EPA]
7/5/17