After Friday’s deadly terrorist attacks at the French capital, the lights of the Paris Las Vegas’s Eiffel Tower replica of the Parisian original were dimmed on the High Roller wheel that shined blue, white and red in memory of those who lost their lives. In addition, $10 of every ticket sold to the Eiffel Tower Experience for the next two days, will be donated to the French Red Cross, according to the hotel and casino.
A moment of silence was observed in the southwest valley by a small group of Las Vegans paying respect to the at least 128 people that were killed by terrorists in a concert hall, and bars and restaurants in Paris and Saint-Denis on Friday evening, according to CNN.
In solidarity, the lights on Las Vegas’ Eiffel Tower will remain dimmed and will continue to shine in blue, white and red, like the French flag, according to a spokeswoman for Caesar’s Entertainment Corporation. While officials in Nevada are on alert, no changes to security were evident on Friday. And while McCarran International Airport doesn’t have any direct flights to or from Paris, it stays on “high alert all the time,” according to an airport spokesman.
According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, the attacks are being monitored by Metro’s Homeland Security the same as they do “whenever there is a terrorist attack anywhere in the world,” said Larry Hadfield a spokesman officer. He elaborated, “At this time, there are no known threats to the Las Vegas areas, but we are in vigilant mode.” Police are also working with the Strip resort’s “security partners.” Sgt. 1st Class Erick Studenicka, a Nevada National Guard spokesman, said the terror alert was on code ”bravo” prior to the attacks and remained so throughout the afternoon. According to Homeland Security, bravo means there is a “significant risk of terrorist attacks,” and is midway through the terror alert chart.
A screen projected an image of the Eiffel Tower and dozens of candles were lit in the grass in the form of number 153 by members of Las Vegas’ secular community who met at The Slammer, a large house in the southwest valley being transformed into a community center. The lit candles signified early estimates of the number of individuals that were killed in the attack.
Through an email statement, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, said he requested “continuous updates” and ordered the situation monitored by the Department of Public Safety and its officer of Homeland Security.
According to CNN, at least 80 were left dead at the Bataclan, a concert hall were a California band was scheduled to play and where the worst carnage occurred. Explosions were heard during the televised broadcasts of an international match between the French and German national soccer teams.