Paris, Thursday 19 November

This morning the PM spoke at the National Assembly during the debate on extending the state of emergency.

France is facing « a new war », a war « in which terror is the prime aim and the first weapon », declared the PM on Thursday at the National Assembly, in his speech to MPs about extending the state of emergency. « We are at war ! Not the kind of war to which history has tragically accustomed us. No, a new war – external and internal – in which terror is the prime aim and and first weapon » said the PM.

A risk of attack with « chemical weapons ». On Thursday Manuel Valls warned of the risk of attack with « chemical and bacteriological weapons ». « The macabre imagination of the commanders is limitless : assault rifles, decapitations, human bombs, swords [...] Today nothing can be ruled out. I speak of course with all the necessary precautions, but we know and we are aware. There can also be the risk of chemical and bacteriological weapons » he said.

In the face of this threat, the government has authorized the army’s pharmacy, urgently, in a decree published on Saturday, to distribute an antidote to bacteriological weapons to France’s civilian emergency services. This product to counter neurotoxins, atropine sulphate, is being made available on account of the « risk of terrorist attacks » in the context of the COP21 conference which will be attended by over 100 heads of state and government, according to this decree signed by the director-general of health.

Source : Europe 1, with AFP

English translation: ACDN