Montauban: soldiers deployed around schools

Soldiers in front of the Family Institute and reassured parents of students. In Montauban, the return to school after the All Saints holidays took place under high security. As part of the fight against terrorism, Tarn-et-Garonne received reinforcements from 30 soldiers from Operation Sentinel. These forces come from the 21st RIMa (Marine Infantry Regiment) from Fréjus and will be part of the landscape at least until November 20 Barely landed, here are the soldiers plunged into the bath.

Random route

At 7.45 a.m., this Monday morning, the soldiers, with keen eyes and machine guns in hand, then accompanied the prefect of Tarn-et-Garonne Pierre Besnard who went to the Family Institute, in Montauban, a downtown school with over 1,000 students from elementary to college. The same colone then walked up the Faubourg Lacapelle towards the Lycée Michelet. “The military is strengthening the vast system of national, municipal and gendarme police officers mobilized since the end of last week in front of religious buildings and other sensitive places. They could also be deployed in Castelsarrasin, Moissac or other municipalities in the department.”

For soldiers experienced in Sentinel, the mission is well established. “We go through several fixed points such as schools or places of worship, but we have room for maneuver. The route is random and changes so as not to be predictable,” said an official. A dynamic route that allows you to fight against routine and boredom. “We are there to protect and reassure the population but also to dissuade the enemies. If something happens, we are trained to react accordingly”, indicates a soldier who watches from afar the exit of classes at the Family Institute .

In Montauban, Commissioner Allegri also ensures for his part that all schools, colleges and high schools in the city of Ingres are closely monitored. “With the state of health emergency, it is clearly the other priority objective of the coming weeks for our police force. We have also determined other sensitive places which will be the subject of surveillance.”

For parents of students, this safe presence is reassuring. “The police were at the entrance to the school. It’s good,” blows this young mother in front of the school in the center.

The same goes for many parents at the Family Institute. “I think the parents were reassured to see the soldiers returning from these school holidays. They let them know by thanking them, moreover, directly for being there this morning”, explains Laurent Pautrat, director of the establishment.

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