Security measures were stepped up in the glamorous French Riviera city of Cannes, with an announcement banning beachgoers from bringing large bags to the seafront.
Cannes Mayor David Lisnard said in a press release on Wednesday (July 27) that the restrictions were to "reinforce the prevention of the risk of attack and security on the beaches."
The announcement comes less than two weeks after a suspected Islamist drove a truck into a Bastille Day crowd, killing 84 people in Nice, 33 kilometers (20 miles) north of Cannes.
"I don't know how can it helps (sic) but who knows, they know better," said beachgoer Andrew, from Belarus, who had his bag checked by police on the beach.
Some beachgoers were more accomodating to the new measures.
"Whatever is necessary to make people feel relaxed and comfortable, I'm in favour of that. I think these are difficult times and we need to look out for each other. I didn't bring a towel today, but I had a swim, it's so nice here, we want to keep it beautiful and we want to keep people relaxed and enjoying it, terrific place," said 62-year-old Dermot Reynolds from Ireland.
"I think that after what happened at Nice, with the attack, I think that now it's normal that they're doing it so it doesn't shock me that much," said 28-year-old Walim.
Linsard called the security measures "pragmatic" in an interview on Thursday (July 28).
The measures are expected to be in place until the end of October.
In April, security forces held drills in which gunmen stormed the Festival Palace -- where major celebrities come to premiere their movies during the film festival -- one of several such exercises staged in France following the November Paris attacks.
