VIDEO: France is 'at war' against terrorism, says Hollande
French president Francois Hollande said today that France is "at war" against terrorism.
Speaking in a televised address, the president said he wants a "large coalition" working together against so-called 'Islamic State' militants to destroy a group that threatens the whole world and "commits massacres" in the Middle East.
He said the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle has left to help French military operations in Syria against 'IS'.
Mr Hollande said France will not "cede to fear" and urged his compatriots to go back out to cafes and museums and live life to its fullest.
He said "what would our country be without its cafes, concerts, sport events, museums?"
Mr Hollande was speaking to mayors from around the country after the nation's deadliest violence in decades last week.
The French leader said "life must resume in full", and promised extra security to ensure that museums can reopen and "our tourists can be welcomed".
Mr Hollande said any places where people are "glorifying" terrorism will be shut down.
A bill to extend France's state of emergency for three months includes a measure that enables authorities to close "any association or gathering" - which notably includes mosques and community groups - that would encourage people to carry out terrorist acts.
The Bill is to be debated by both houses of parliament on Thursday and Friday and is expected to be voted on by the end of the week.
French authorities have sent out a bulletin to police across Europe asking them to watch out for a Citroen Xsara car that could be carrying Salah Abdeslam, the fugitive wanted in the Paris attacks, a Spanish security official said.
Spain's El Espanol digital publication first reported the bulletin on Wednesday, publishing a document with the car's description and naming Abdeslam.
It was sent by Spanish authorities to border control police in the north-eastern Catalonia region next to France.
The security official confirmed the document was authentic but said the bulletin was sent to authorities across Europe and not only to Spain.
Overnight raids by police across France resulted in 25 arrests and the seizure of 34 weapons, the interior ministry said.
The arrests are the latest in a nationwide police operation that has seen nightly raids by security forces under powers granted by the state of emergency declared after last week’s attacks.
In all, French police have carried out 414 raids and made 60 arrests while seizing 75 weapons since Friday. The captured armoury includes 11 military style firearms, 33 rifles and 31 handguns.
In addition to dozens of arrests, 118 more people have been placed under house arrest in another of the new powers permitted under France’s state of emergency.
