Vigipirate


Vigipirate is France's national security alert system. Created in 1978 by President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, it has since been updated three times: in 1995, 2000 and 2004.
Until 2014 the system defined four levels of threats represented by five colors: white, yellow, orange, red, scarlet. The levels called for specific security measures, including increased police or police/military mixed patrols in subways, train stations and other vulnerable locations.
In February 2014 the levels were simplified to 'vigilance' and 'attack alert'.
The name "Vigipirate" is an acronym of vigilance et protection des installations contre les risques d'attentats terroristes à l'explosif

Levels of alert (to 2014)

Levels of alert (from 2014)

3 levels
DateLevelDescription
2 January 1991Phase 1First release phase 1 in the beginning of the Gulf War.
17 January 1991Phase 2Passage of phase 2 in the early war strikes.
26 April 1991Lifting of level
8 September 1995ReleaseAfter the 1995 Paris Métro and RER bombings.
15 January 1996Relief
October 1996Suspension
3 December 1996ReactivationAfter an attack on the RER station Port Royal in Paris.
1998ReinforcementDue to the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
24 April 1999ReinforcementDue to the Kosovo War.
24 April 1999ReactivationIn the wake of the attacks in Corsica.
27 December 1999ReactivationIn the wake of the Y2K problem.
11 September 2001ReinforcementAfter the September 11 attacks in the United States.
5 June 2002ProrogationProrogued by the new Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.
9 September 2002ProrogationExtension of Vigipirate strengthened after the 11 September attacks.
6 December 2002ReinforcementCelebrations at the end of the year.
20 March 2003ReinforcementAt the beginning of the Iraq War.
20 March 2003Orange levelReforming of Vigipirate and the introduction of color levels due to the Iraq war.
17 May 2003Orange levelAfter the 2003 Casablanca bombings.
2 October 2003Yellow levelPrime Ministerial decision.
1 December 2003Orange levelDue to the celebrations.
26 January 2004Yellow level
12 March 2004Red levelOnly in land transport, orange everywhere else. After the 2004 Madrid train bombings.
24 May 2004Red levelDuring the week-long anniversary of the invasion of Normandy.
8 June 2004Orange level
8 July 2004Orange level
7 July 2005Red levelAfter the 7 July 2005 London bombings.
10 October 2005Red levelNew measures adopted.
8 November 2005State of emergencyState of emergency implemented due to the 2005 French riots.
4 January 2006Red levelEnd of the state of emergency.
July 2006Red levelNew measures adopted.
16 December 2008Red levelAfter explosives are found at a Paris department store.
August 2010Red levelMeasures of protection are reinforced.
September 2010Red levelStrengthening of security throughout the country.
November 2010Red levelAfter five terror suspects are arrested.
May 2011Red levelAfter the death of Osama Bin Laden.
19 March 2012Scarlet levelAfter the Toulouse and Montauban shootings. First time scarlet level is implemented.
24 March 2012Red levelLevel lowered back to red after the Toulouse and Montauban shootings suspect was apprehended.
20 February 2014VigilanceLevel set to "Vigilance" with the inauguration of the updated Vigipirate threat levels.
7 January 2015Attack alertAlert level raised in Île-de-France, and in the Picardy region the following day, after the Charlie Hebdo shooting. The alert level was lowered back to Vigilance in Picardy on 14 January 2015, while being maintained at the Attack level in Île de France.
14 November 2015State of emergencyA state of emergency was declared throughout the whole of France, the day following the November 2015 Paris attacks, this state of emergency was continually extended until 1 November 2017.