Massive Security Rolls Into Place After RER Bomb Blast

Death Toll Rises

All the victims of the blast, which occurred about 17:30 yesterday in the underground station of the RER line 'B,' were removed from the site by 20:00 and transported - some by helicopter - to city hospitals. At noon today, 15 remained on the critical list, and another 62 were less seriously injured.

Across Seine from blast, a victim being loaded into civil defense helicopter by emergency doctors and firemen, for evacuation to Paris' area hospital. (Image Credit: Antenne 2)

Within minutes of the explosion, Plan 'Rouge' kicked into action, sending 300 medical, fire department, evacuation, and security personal rushing to the scene. Besides knocking lines 'B' and 'C' of the RER out of service to commuters, security services overwelmed the left bank in the Latin Quarter, and completely scrambled rush-hour traffic heading west along the Seine.

Claude Sempère of A2 TV news at 13:00, interviewing owner of left-bank cafe, 'Le Depart Saint-Michel,' used last night as emergency aid station. Owner said waiters not only assisted medical personal, but passed out cool drinks to rescue workers in street outside cafe. (Image Credit: Antenne 2)

According to a TV news report, broadcast at 13:00 today by Antenne 2, not all of the victims have been positively identified. Hotline numbers were set up and in operation last night, to assist relatives seeking news of the victims. The organization 'SOS Attentat' (Criminal outrage), formed after the series of bombings in Paris in 1986, swung into action to aid the relatives of victims.

Despite considerable speculation last night about the identity of the authors of the attack, no one has so far claimed responsibility. A government spokesman said that no threats had been received recently.

Today, starting with the first metro and RER trains, 3000 agents were in place to assure security. Meanwhile, frontier police filled all of France's international airports and manned border crossings, to check all passengers and travelers, and to re-institute passport checks; only recently suspended for inter-European travelers.

PLO chairman Yasser Arafat, in interview in Paris today, shown on A2 news tonight; condemned 'blind' terrorism. (Image Credit: Antenne 2)

Security was especially dense at Orly airport, just south of Paris, in anticipation of the arrival, this morning, of PLO chairman, Yasser Arafat.

Yesterday's blast reminded Parisians of a murderous series of bombings in the 1980's that cumulated in September 1986, with five bombings that claimed nine lives and left scores injured.

Return to Richard Erickson's Paris Journal

Updated 07/95