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HALLOWEEN

French police ban unsafe Halloween costumes

Police officers in southern France who are still on heightened terror alert have banned locals from wearing "dangerous" costume accessories for Halloween. It comes after a boy dressed as Mr T sparked a terror scare.

Published: 30 October 2015 09:41 CET
French police ban unsafe Halloween costumes
This woman's "armed cow" costume would not sit pretty with some French police. Photo: AFP
Police in the Alpes-Maritimes département are taking no chances this Halloween, issuing a statement with detailed information about what costumes are deemed safe. 
 
“Have fun, be imaginative, scare people – but don't terrorize!” the police wrote. “Dangerous toy guns are forbidden.”
 
 
Basically, the officers have said that any outfit that includes a fake firearm is unacceptable.
 
In case it wasn't clear enough, they send out a series of pictures containing “acceptable” and “unacceptable” costumes (we've included a selection below).
 
 
And it's no surprise they're taking the matter seriously.
 
In February this year, officers in Nice launched a massive manhunt after witnesses reported seeing a man cruising around town armed with a Kalashnikov. 
 
It turned out to be a 17-year-old high school student dressed for a party as tough guy actor Mr T, known for his roles in 80s TV show The A-Team and Rocky III.
 
Schoolboy 'Mr T' sparks French terror alert

(A schoolboy dressed as “Mr T” sparked panic in Nice in February. Photo: AFP)
 
Halloween takes off in France
 
The French have only given Halloween a lukewarm reception since it was officially introduced in 1999, but a new YouGov poll suggests the festivities are taking off. 
 
Indeed, over 30 percent of 18-44-year-olds are expected to take part in some kind of celebrations on Saturday, with around 30 percent of 25-34-year-olds considering making specific purchases for the day. 
 
Other aspects of American culture have crept across the Atlantic recently, with Black Friday proving all the more popular, Starbucks invading the French coffee scene, and Burger King giving traditional French food a solid run for its money. 

 
 
Halloween: The ten spookiest places in Paris

(Is there really a ghost on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower? Photo: AFP)

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HALLOWEEN

Frenchman arrested for dressing as Halloween jihadist

A Frenchman asked police "what's the problem?" after being arrested on Halloween for being dressed as a jihadist carrying a fake rifle.

Published: 2 November 2016 08:26 CET
Frenchman arrested for dressing as Halloween jihadist

Police in southern France arrested a young man celebrating Halloween early on Tuesday after passers-by alerted them
to a menacing figure brandishing a rifle and shouting “Allahu Akbar” — Arabic for 'God is greatest'.

The rifle turned out to be fake and the 26-year-old suspect, who was dressed in black and khaki, told investigators he didn't understand what the problem was, a police source in the southern city of Toulouse said.   

The youth said he had just dressed up for a night out, telling investigators: “You can do anything on Halloween”.

French police and citizens are on high alert after a series of deadly attacks by Islamic extremists over the past two years, which claimed more than 200 lives.

Last year police officers in southern France banned locals from wearing “dangerous” costume accessories for Halloween after a boy dressed as Mr T sparked a terror scare.

The officers have said that any outfit that includes a fake firearm is unacceptable.

In February last year, officers in Nice launched a massive manhunt after witnesses reported seeing a man cruising around town armed with a Kalashnikov. 
 
It turned out to be a 17-year-old high school student dressed for a party as tough guy actor Mr T, known for his roles in 80s TV show The A-Team and Rocky III.
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