“During the council meeting, the head of state confirmed the persistence of a high terrorist threat on our territory. He reiterated his commitment to do everything to protect our citizens,” the statement posted on the country's Defense Council's website said.
The president also said that France would allocate resources to ensure constant vigilance on the “most vulnerable religious sites.” He also asked the government together with private operators and local authorities to consider the possible development of new mechanisms aimed to reinforce security.
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said in late January that by 2018 the country would employ over 2,600 personnel to provide security and protection against radical Islamists. The minister also announced that thousands of planned layoffs in the army would be canceled, and extra Muslim chaplains would be hired to tackle radicalization in French prisons.
