ARMED POLICE STORM PALACE OF VERSAILLES IN PARIS OVER 'SECURITY INCIDENT'

Armed police have stormed the Palace of Versailles in Paris following a "security incident" that has forced the tourist attraction to close - with the public being urged to avoid the area.

An evacuation is currently underway as security forces rush to the scene. Dozens of armed officers can be seen guarding the building as tourists are being asked to move away from the area.

An official announcement from the social media of the French tourist attraction said an ‘intervention is under way at the Château de Versailles’. It tweeted: "Security forces are on site. Avoid the area and follow the instructions of the authorities. Do not relay false information.’

A further official tweet announced that the palace had closed completely due to the incident. "Following a report, the Palace of Versailles is closed. A reconnaissance for verification is underway by the security forces on the site," it read.

Footage from the area posted on X show security workers ushering people away as armed GIGN troops patrol in the background. Police have reportedly since said that the incident is not related to terrorism, according to a tweet by Factal News. It read: "French police say incident at Palace of Versailles not related to terrorism after altercation between street vendors prompted large police presence."

One witness said: "We were waiting to be allowed to enter the Palace of Versailles and now it is evacuated. The [police] have just entered it," reports The Sun. French-based journalist Hugo Palacin said on X: "The Palace of Versailles is blocked, the GIGN has just arrived while hundreds of tourists are waiting outside. No information on the reason for this intervention."

While unconfirmed reports from French media outlet Le Figaro said a person was reportedly seen fleeing the scene with a knife following a ‘dispute’ between two street vendors.

The Palace of Versailles is one of France’s most visited tourist attractions and the vast Versailles palace was the home of King Louis XVI before his decapitation during the French Revolution.

The Gallery of the History of the Palace has 11 rooms, each thematic and largely chronological, presenting over 120 works aimed at providing visitors from across the world with an immediate understanding of the complex history of the palace. Meanwhile, the evacuation comes just weeks after a fire broke out at the historic tourist attraction prompting staff to get tourists to flee the buildings.

Footage on social media showed white smoke emerging from the palace as a fire alarm was triggered in one of the buildings and alerted staff to the blaze. Firefighters rushed to the scene where they were able to put out the fire and safely evaucate the tourists.

2024-07-04T12:08:12Z dg43tfdfdgfd