PARIS – France has stopped 10,000 people from entering the
country since last November’s attacks in Paris, Interior Minister Bernard
Cazeneuve said as he announced extra security measures in the wake of deadly
blasts in Brussels on Tuesday.

France’s borders are officially open under the Schengen
agreement that waives controls between some European countries, but it has put
checks in place since the Nov. 13 militant assaults on cafes bars, a football
stadium and a music hall, in which 130 people died.

Cazeneuve said those extra controls involving 5,000 police
had been particularly focused on its northern border with Belgium.

“In total, 220 points of entry are checked, 42 of
them systematically and permanently. As a result over four months, 6 million people
have been checked, and 10,000 individuals have already been prevented from
entering,” he told reporters.

Those who struck in Paris are believed to have planned
their assault in Brussels. The prime surviving suspect from the assault in the
French capital was arrested there last week.

Belgium’s federal prosecutor said one of the explosions at
Brussels Airport was likely to have been caused by a suicide bomber. There were
two blast at the airport and another on a metro train.

Cazeneuve said that as of Tuesday he had deployed a
further 1,600 police to bolster security at its borders and on public
transport.

He was speaking after an emergency government meeting
called by President Francois Hollande.

France has been on its highest alert status since November
13 amid worries about another attack on its soil. After the arrest of Paris
attack suspect Salah Abdeslam last week, police have been on alert for any
reprisal action in both capitals, which lie about 315 kilometres apart.

–
Reuters