The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in southwest France. Photo by SacredSites.com
30,000 pilgrims had to be evacuated from the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in southwest France due to a bomb threat received by local police.
The message claimed that four devices will explode at 15.00 CET. The pilgrims gathered near the shrine had to be evacuated.
Sunday’s great Catholic day of the Assumption of Mary, attracted many to the small French town of Lourdes, where in the mid-19th century an apparition of the Virgin Mary is said to have taken place.
The day is celebrated by Eastern Orthodox Christians under the name of Dormition of the Holy Mother of God.