Police Evacuate Lourdes Shrine After Bomb Threat

Around 30,000 pilgrims were evacuated from the Catholic shrine of Lourdes on Sunday, after police received a tip-off that four bombs would explode at the site at 3 pm.

Even though bomb disposal experts and sniffer dogs finished their jobs at the site and the time had passed without any explosion, police did not confirm if it was a hoax or a real threat.

The pilgrims, who were attending services celebrating the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, were led to safety. A spokesman said everything was done in an orderly manner.

The tip-off phone call came around 11:30 am.

The Lourdes shrine is in southwestern France where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to a young shepherdess in the 19th century. Assumption day is one of the busiest days of the year for Lourdes.

Foto: NTDTV