“Bomb Threats Target French Newspapers and Town Hall”

A bomb threat was reported at three newspapers and a town hall following an anonymous call claiming the placement of explosive devices. The targeted locations include L’Est Républicain, Le Républicain Lorrain, and Vosges Matin headquarters in Houdemont, northeastern France, along with the Saint-Max town hall. The threat emerged after a demand for 10,000 euros in exchange for not detonating an alleged incendiary device at the town hall earlier in the week, leading to evacuations and security measures. Subsequently, another threat was made to the L’Est Républicain headquarters in Houdemont, with the caller demanding immediate publication of certain content on the newspaper’s website under the threat of detonating explosives at the town hall and the newspaper office. Law enforcement responded by establishing security perimeters and conducting thorough checks with the assistance of sniffer dogs to ensure safety. In a separate incident in Paris on February 20, several buildings were evacuated due to bomb threats, including the Montparnasse Tower and Sciences Po Paris, prompting security measures and warnings to the public to avoid affected areas.