Even cell phones in silent mode began to emit a shrill alarm, sometimes several times… A message sent on Monday May 13 around 8 p.m. by the Ministry of the Interior to the phones of many Parisians surprised, not to say panicked. , some people.
The message titled “extremely serious alert“, accompanied by a very loud ringtone, was sent via the FR-Alert device, which is used to warn the general public in the event of an emergency. However, it was in reality relaying a purely administrative information message relating to the perimeter of security of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.
“IMPORTANT: message from the Ministry of the Interior relating to the security perimeter of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games from July 18 to 26 inclusive“, could we read in this message encouraging the “local residents, employees, traders, hotel or restaurant customers” to connect to the “pass-jeux” platform to obtain a QR code.
The message sparked numerous reactions on social networks, but also in the National Assembly. While the Minister of the Interior was in the middle of a debate on New Caledonia, the cacophony followed the shrill ringing of the alert: “Minister, there is an alert!“, launched several voices among the Insoumis, while Gérald Darmanin tried to turn off his own phone, while continuing the thread of his speech. The President of the National Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet had to intervene: “Minister, you hear that there is an alert at the moment, no one can hear you!”
For its part, the Ministry of the Interior assumes responsibility for the process, and confirms that it is“information disseminated widely for an exceptional event, disseminated in the impacted area“.”This is an alert sent to the security perimeters and their surroundings to widely inform of the opening of the platform to obtain a QR code in order to enter the perimeter from July 18 to 26“, added the ministry. “It is an alert sent to the security perimeters and their surroundings to widely inform of the opening of the platform“, we underlined at the Ministry of the Interior.