Oldest flea market in Europe canceled due to safety concerns

Visitors shop among sale stalls during the annual "Braderie de Lille", Europe's biggest flea market, in northern French city of Lille, on Sept 3, 2011.[Photo/Xinhua]

PARIS- The French city Lille won't be holding its 2016 La Braderie de Lille, a globally famous flea market, for fear of terrorist attacks, the city's mayor said Friday.

The annual street market, dating back to the 12th century, is known as the biggest and oldest flea market in Europe. It is supposed to take place on the first Sunday of September in Lille, northern France, and used to attract millions of visitors from all over the world.

When announcing this decision at a news conference, the city's major Martine Aubry, a presidential candidate in 2012, said, "It's heart-wrenching to make this decision."

Though some local vendors expressed regret and even anger over the decision, Aubry insisted that upgraded security measures such as sharpshooters, riot police and helicopters go against the spirit of the annual event.

France is still in a state of emergency after a spate of terrorist attacks. Last month, over 80 people were killed by a truck ramming into a crowd celebrating the Bastille Day in Nice. Two weeks later, a priest was murdered by a man in Normandy.

The Islamic State terrorist group has claimed responsibility for both attacks.

On Friday, French police arrested an Afghan asylum seeker who may have been planning "an imminent terrorist attack," according to local state-run radio.