France bans planned gathering of Muslims in Paris area, citing security risk

France banned a gathering of Muslims that was ​planned in the Paris area ‌for the coming days, due to ​it representing a security ⁠risk, the country’s top police officer said on Thursday (April 2, 2026).

“At the request of the ‌Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, I have issued an order ‌prohibiting the 40th edition of ‌the ⁠Annual Meeting of Muslims of ⁠France, from April 3 to April 6 at the Paris–Le Bourget Exhibition Centre,” the ​Paris Police ‌Chief Patrice Faure said in a post on X.

“This decision is set within a national and ‌international context marked by heightened tensions ​and an increased level of terrorist alert, risks of ⁠public disorder, and the large police

presence on the streets in the ‌coming days,” he said. The decision comes after France increased security at sensitive sites across Paris after a foiled bomb attack on Bank of America’s offices last ‌weekend, in the wake of the U.S.-Israeli ​war on Iran.

Asked to comment on the situation, Makhlouf ⁠Mameche, head of the organisation that planned ⁠the event, confirmed the banning order and added his organisation ‌would be making a legal appeal against the decision.