TERRORISTS COULD POSE AS HOMELESS PEOPLE

Terrorists 'could pose as homeless people as part of a jihadi plot to bomb the Paris Metro', leading French politicians warn

 

Terrorists could be posing as homeless people to plant explosives on the Paris Metro underground system, two leading French politicians have warned.

Jihadis could 'easily blend in' with the estimated 300 people who sleep rough in underground stations during the winter, senators Alain Fouche and Francois Bonhomme said in a 50-page report.

They wrote in the document submitted to the French parliament: 'Terrorists can get in by blending with the homeless people that sleep in the Metro at night, then seize the opportunity to carry out any number of attacks. They could sabotage the stations or install explosives.'

+4

+4

Senators Alain Fouche (right) and Francois Bonhomme (left) said jihadis could 'easily blend in' with the estimated 300 people who sleep rough in underground stations

The senators said the warning was not issued to 'chase out' the homeless, but to highlight security loopholes the French capital's transport network.

To reduce the risk attacks, the senators called for more housing options for the homeless in Paris, and better security and CCTV coverage on the Metro.

France continues to be in a state of high alert following the November attacks in Paris which killed 130 people.

France's state-owned railway SNCF confirmed that security cameras which can predict terror attacks by monitoring suspicious behaviour and luggage could eventually be rolled out across France.

+4

There are an estimated 300 people who sleep rough in underground stations during the winter (stock image)

A law is also under consideration in France to give SNCF security agents powers to perform pat-downs and search passengers' luggage.

Airport-style security gates were installed at Paris Gare du Nord station last month at a cost of 1.7 million pounds a year, but experts dismissed the extra security as 'terror theatre' that would have no practical effect.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has said that the authorities believe new terror attacks are being planned in France and in other European countries following the carnage in Paris.

He told the French media: 'We know that operations were being prepared and are still being prepared, not only against France but other European countries too.

'France will be living with the threat of terror attacks for a long time.'