Macron to extend state of emergency in France

French President Emmanuel Macron will ask parliament to extend the state of emergency, in place since the 2015 attacks by Islamic State (IS) group, till November, the media reported on Wednesday.

The new President said in a statement that he will ask lawmakers to prolong the measure from July 15, its current expiration date, until November 1, Xinhua news agency reported.

It would be the sixth extension of the state of emergency, which gives police exceptional powers.

It comes after the Monday night suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, northern England, that left 22 persons dead.

The decision was made in a security meeting on Wednesday in which top officials "studied the implications of this new terrorist attack on measures of protection to ensure the security of our compatriots".

The statement from the Elysee presidential palace once again noted "the bonds that unite France and the UK in the fight against terrorism".

The Islamic State militant group, responsible for terror attacks in France in the past two years, was behind the deadly Manchester attack that also left 59 persons injured.

Macron asked his government to prepare draft legislation to reinforce security measures permanently beyond the state of emergency.

He also decided to create a coordination centre for services engaged in the fight against terrorism at a defence council meeting on June 7.

France has been on high alert ahead of the two-round parliamentary election on June 11 and 18.

--IANS

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