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Hollande holds defense council to discuss safety in new academic year

Xinhua, August 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

French President Francois Hollande met with security officials and army chiefs to outline adequate ways to ensure calm in the country at the start of the new academic year, his office said Wednesday in a statement.

Via a package of measures based on the military forces' availability and mobility, the president wants to ensure security two weeks before schools start in a context of the state of emergency.

Speaking after the meeting, Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the council targeted to "prepare the beginning of the new academic year in a climate of continued very high threat."

"Since terrorists can attack at any time and in any place, it is important to have dynamic teams circulating throughout the national territory," said French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve at a joint press meeting.

France has been on high terror alert after a series of deadly attacks rocked Paris on Nov. 13 and killed 130 people. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks and several others that followed. Endit