Security stepped up for Christmas

Nearly 100,000 police officers, gendarmes and soldiers will be on duty over the Christmas weekend to ensure the holiday passes peacefully.

Interior minister Gérard Collomb announced that 54,000 police officers, 36,000 gendarmes and 7,000 soldiers from Operation Sentinel will be mobilised on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Mr Collomb had already contacted préfectures to ensure all the religious festivals of the period were suitably protected, including "visible and dissuasive measures designed to secure main places of worship", as well as popular public locations the statement said.

And expressed his gratitude to all the security forces who will be engaged on the ground to ensure that Christmas celebrations take place in good conditions for all French people.

Jihadi attacks in France have claimed 241 lives since January 2015.