The dark cloud over Cannes: Anti-terrorist police wearing balaclavas and bullet-proof vests spotted patrolling the French Riviera just yards from A-list celebrities
- Police wearing balaclavas are patrolling the sea near Cannes Film Festival
- Cannes was placed on high alert after A-list celebrities arrived in the city
- The six French officers were wearing bullet-proof vests and helmets
- They were seen near a luxury hotel where George Clooney was spotted
Anti-terrorist police wearing balaclavas and bullet-proof vests have been spotted patrolling the sea just yards from A-list celebrities who are attending the glamorous Cannes Film Festival.
The six French officers were also wearing helmets as one steered the vessel near the five-star Eden Roc Hotel in Antibes, France.
Hollywood actor George Clooney, 55, was photographed standing outside the luxury hotel with his wife Amal, 38, just three days ago.
It comes as Cannes was placed on high alert after the world's stars descended on the city for the well-known 12-day film festival.Â
Anti-terrorist police wearing balaclavas have been spotted patrolling the sea just yards from A-list celebrities who are attending the glamorous Cannes Film Festival
Hundreds of soldiers, police and security agents have been deployed as the city braces itself against any potential terror attack. Â
Last month, elite police forces staged a simulated terror attack at the Palais des Festivals, the venue for the main screenings.
Meanwhile, air and sea exclusion zones have also been declared, as well as a ban on drones, and Mayor David Lisnard has said random searches will be conducted in the streets of Cannes.
But Mayor Lisnard dismissed concerns that the tight security will throw a wet blanket over the parties, glitter and glamour of the event.
He said: 'Do you think an attack brings merriment? We have succeeded in preserving the festival atmosphere.Â
'The public will be at the foot of the (red-carpeted) steps. All the parties will be authorised but security must be taken care of.'
One of the officers steered the boat as the anti-terrorist police patrolled the sea close to a five-star hotel
They wore helmets, balaclavas and bullet-proof vests as they kept watch close to the Cannes Film FestivalÂ
The extra measures have been put in place following the Paris terror attacks, which left 130 people dead in November. France has been in a state of emergency ever since.
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the festival was at high risk of attack, but they had put in place 400 security agents to guard the Palais des Festivals, not to mention hundreds of extra police officers and security forces ready to act if needed.
Cannes already has 500 CCTV cameras, making it the most closely monitored town in France.Â
But this is not the first time organisers have been on high alert. In 1978, French authorities thwarted an attack on the film festival when they discovered a bomb on the Palais des Festivals stage.
The six anti-terrorist officers patrolled the French Riviera and circled huge yachts near the shore
The boat approached one of the hotels on the coast near the Cannes Film Festival
The boat, being steered by one of the officers, came close to one of the large yachts in the French Riviera
Their prescence comes as Cannes was placed on high alert after the world's stars descended on the city for the well-known 12-day film festival
Some 45,000 people are expected to visit the event, with nearly 90 feature films set to be shown in this year's official selection, 21 of which are in the running for the Palme d'Or.Â
Hollywood stars like Blake Lively, Jessica Chastain, Eva Longoria and Kirsten Dunst have already been spotted arriving.Â
The six French officers were also  helmets as one steered the vessel near the five-star Eden Roc Hotel in Antibes, France
The vessel approached a number of expensive yachts near the Cannes Film Festival
French actress Vanessa Paradis, Johnny Depp's ex-wife, and Susan Sarandon were pictured arriving at their hotels.Â
Several billionaires have parked their superyachts along the Riviera for the festival - Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's 'Octopus' was in Nice and Spielberg's 'Seven Seas' in Antibes, according to Forbes.com.Â
Cannes has drafted in hundreds of extra security guards, soldiers and police officers to guard the city during the festival
The whole of France has been on high alert since the November terror attacks in Paris, which left 130 dead
George Clooney and his wife Amal Alamuddin arrive at the Eden Roc Hotel in Cap d'Antibes ahead of the start of the festival
Some of Hollywood's biggest names have arrived at the festival, including Eva Longoria (left) and Jessica Chastain (right)
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