France's Hollande vows to combat terrorism
September 19, 2016
President Francois Hollande said on Monday that the country needed to devote more resources to combating terrorism as France remains under a state of emergency following a string of attacks since 2015.
"We must ensure that the action taken is sustained and here I am talking about all the measures taken to foresee attacks, deter them and stop them. It's a constant battle and will need still more resources than those I have called for," Hollande said.
The ceremony held in Paris was organized by victims' associations to honor and remember all victims of terrorism, including those killed in Brussels, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Mali.
The names of 230 people killed in terror attacks in France over the past year were also read.
"Our country had never been attacked to this extent, with such destructive rage, with such barbarian cruelty. That's why it was so important for names, all names to be evoked," Hollande said.
Hollande said survivors and families of those impacted needed support and protection, including free medical and psychological care.
France has put thousands of extra police and soldiers on the streets and plans to hire additional police in an effort to beef up security in the wake of the terror attacks.
cw/msh (AP, Reuters)