French authorities emphasise maritime defences

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As the stars start to arrive in Cannes, where as many as 200,000 visitors are expected, local authorities have given strong assurances regarding public safety for those attending the 70th annual Film Festival.

The Maritime Prefecture of the Mediterranean said that from May 17 until May 28, the closing date of the festival, to ensure the safety of those present in the “Fanzone” in Cannes, a special maritime security system has been established, based around two restricted zones, one with a speed limit of five knots and a second inner zone with a speed limit of three knots. The strategy is to deal with any attempt by terrorists to reach the Festival from the sea.

In its communiqué, the Maritime Prefecture added: “The Maritime Gendarmerie will coordinate the resources of the State’s naval divisions in the area – Navy, Maritime Police, Departmental Gendarmerie, Customs, Maritime Affairs and National Police. The mission is to ensure the control of the maritime area of the Bay of Cannes and, in particular the immediate approaches of the festival palace, the port and the beach, to inform, detect, question, control and neutralise if necessary all suspicious movements.”

In addition, “Other marine facilities are also placed on alert and capable of reinforcing the system on the orders of the Maritime Prefect.” The maritime precautions are being put in place to complement heightened security on land.

 

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