France’s Macron Vows to Crackdown on Illegal Immigration to Counter Growing ‘Terrorist Threat’

France’s President Emmanuel Macron vowed on Thursday to shore up border control measures and crackdown on illegal immigration as part of the country’s overall strategy to combat the ascending “terrorist threat.”

“We see very clearly that terrorist actions can actually be led by some people who use migratory flows to threaten our territory,” he said during a visit to the border with adjoining Spain. “So, we must reinforce our controls for reasons of national security.”

The number of border police will be increased from 2,400 to 4,800.

The stern comments come just days after an Islamic jihadist killed three churchgoers in a horrific knife assault – in which one victim was decapitated – at the Notre Dame Basilica in the city of Nice late last week. The alleged perpetrator, identified as 21-year-old Tunisian Ibrahim Issaoui, is believed to have moved illicitly through Italy in September and into France.

He remains in a French hospital after being wounded by French authorities during his apprehension.

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