John Keiger John Keiger

How Macron reacts to the Nice attack will be critical

A soldier stands guard at the scene of today's knife attack in Nice (Getty images)

The suspected terrorist attack in Nice’s Notre Dame Basilica this morning appears to be the third such incident in France in the last few weeks. Two female worshippers and a man thought to be the Basilica’s sexton had their throats slit by an assassin who, it is claimed, cried ‘Allahu Akbar’ after being shot and wounded by French police.

A crisis unit has been set up at the Interior Ministry. France has jumped to urgent terror alert. Emmanuel Macron is flying down to Nice. His words will be listened to across France and worldwide. Things are at a tipping point.

An emotional Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, has called for ‘Islamo-fascism to be wiped from our territory’. Marine Le Pen has called for ‘war legislation’ to deal with Islamists in France. The spokesman of the French Bishops Conference warned against Christians becoming ‘instrumentalised’ in the struggle underway.

John Keiger
Written by
John Keiger

Professor John Keiger is the former research director of the Department of Politics and International Studies at Cambridge. He is the author of France and the Origins of the First World War.

Topics in this article

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in