French minister: Terror threat is real

Threat of a terror attack remains “real” for France, new interior minister Michele Alliot-Marie said today.

Ms Alliot-Marie said she would maintain France’s alert level at red, second from the top in the colour-coded system.

“There is a reality. The threat is real concerning France like all western countries,” she said on France-Inter radio. “We are being very careful.”

Ms Alliot-Marie, former defence minister, was named interior minister in the new government formed on Friday after the May 6 election of President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Mr Sarkozy served as interior minister before resigning to campaign for the presidency.

Ms Alliot-Marie said the alert level would remain at red and “it is going to be that way for some time”.

“The fight against terrorism is one of my priorities ... It is becoming a major concern.”