Pentagon bans US troops from travel to Paris

The Pentagon has banned all personnel from traveling within 50 kilometers of Paris during their free time following the terrorist attacks there Friday. 

“This is a precautionary measure to keep our personnel and families safe in light of the recent attacks,” U.S. European Command said in an announcement Sunday. “This is also an effort to help minimize tourist traffic at the borders in France, and in particularly, in Paris as the French authorities continue their investigation.”

{mosads}The ban applies to all unofficial travel by military personnel, civilian employees, contractors and command-sponsored dependents and family members.

Those who are assigned to diplomatic posts or who have a connecting flight that lands in France but won’t leave the airport are exempt from the ban.

Anyone who needs to go to the area for official business or an emergency will need to first get approval from a general officer or flag officer in their chain of command.