Faced with the threat of terrorism, security has been “considerably strengthened” ahead of the Paris Marathon on Sunday,
organisers said.

“In recent weeks we have had regular meetings with the Prefecture of Police in Paris, and we can say that security has been considerably strengthened,” said marathon director Edouard Cassignol on Thursday.

“Safety is a major concern today, and security is the responsibility of state authorities. It is up to the Prefecture of Police to manage security for the marathon.”

On Sunday nearly 50,000 people are expected to take part in the marathon that crosses Paris from east to west, from the Bois de Vincennes to the Bois de Boulogne.

Thousands of spectators will also be lining the roads in the French capital.

Race organisers declined to elaborate on the arrangements put in place for security reasons.

“We can't say much more, we have a commitment not to disclose the details of the plans because confidentiality ensures full efficiency,” said Cassignol.

However, he did add: “We will increase the number of security guards and bolster bag searches, both in terms of resources and materials, as staff will be equipped with metal detectors.

“We will also have people who are trained to spot any abnormal behaviour, and we have briefed our 3,000 volunteers on being vigilant on the day.”