Readers are reminded that the Notre Dame Cathedral has been the site of several terror attacks or attempted attacks.

On June 6, 2017, Algerian-born Farid Ikken was shot after attacking a police officer with a hammer outside of the cathedral. A video in which Ikken pledged allegiance to ISIS was found in his apartment.

On Sept 4, 2016, a failed attack involving a car loaded with gas canisters at Notre Dame Cathedral was spearheaded by a group of women that included a 19-year-old whose written pledge of allegiance to the Islamic State group was found by police.

In recent months, dozens of Catholic churches and Jewish synagogues have been desecrated and/or vandalized across France.