French Senate passes new anti-terror bill

The document will now proceed to the lower house of the National Assembly for a vote in October.

Under the state of emergency, authorities have the power to place people under house arrest, order house searches and ban public gatherings without the prior approval of a judge.

Compared to the current emergency powers, the movement restrictions and search powers can only be used in terrorism cases and are subject to judicial authorization or appeal.

France has been under a state of emergency since November 2015 when Islamic State extremists killed 130 people in a series of coordinated attacks on the Bataclan Theatre and bars and cafes in Paris./.