French authorities have bolstered security measures ahead of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, responding to earlier threats of possible attacks during the event. So, what do we know so far?
The country is preparing to welcome some 15 million visitors to the Summer Olympic Games which start on July 26 and end on 14 August. A total of 10,500 athletes will compete from 206 countries, with the tournament the largest ever held on French territory.
Amid the Games, French President Emmanuel Macron called for a snap election, stirring controversy in the midst of the upcoming event. However, the Games themselves will proceed unaffected by the voting process. While it’s fantastic that millions will attend the Olympics, it poses a significant challenge for the security forces.
A large military camp has been constructed to accommodate security forces and soldiers during the Olympics, with over 35,000 security personnel expected to be in operation during the event.
France’s interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, warned of numerous threats to the games, including from the Islamic State and other militant Islamist groups, violent environmental activists, far-right extremists, and cyberattacks originating from Russia.
French police have already intercepted the first publicly documented terrorist threat related to the games. In late April, French anti-terrorism forces arrested a 16-year-old from Marignier who had posted on social media about his intention to build an explosive belt and carry out a suicide bombing at an Olympic venue.
On 22 May, they apprehended an 18-year-old Chechen accused of plotting to bomb spectators and police at a football stadium in Saint-Etienne. They later arrested a man after he was alledgedly suspected of endagering the Olympic Relay.
Senior French and American law enforcement officials identified youth riots, protests, or strikes as the primary threat to the games. In efforts to mitigate these risks, the government has recently brokered substantial salary increases and bonuses with France’s influential unions, including those representing Paris’s sanitation workers.
The officials’ second most pressing concern is cyber terrorism, an escalating global threat. According to technology giant Cisco, the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 faced approximately 450 million cyberattacks. As an official partner for Paris 2024, the company anticipates a surge in cyberattacks, projecting eight times more incidents compared to the Tokyo Games.
Extensive security operations are primarily focused on the opening ceremony, which marks a historic shift from stadium settings to the River Seine, spanning over 100 access points. Athletes will glide on boats along a four-mile stretch through central Paris, greeted by cheering crowds.
However, French officials reduced the number of spectators lining the riverbanks from approximately 600,000 to 300,000 in January, citing security reasons. Following a deadly Islamist attack at a Russian concert hall in March, France heightened its security alert to the highest level.
On the opening night, Paris airspace will be closed, alongside the closure of numerous Metro stations and roads around the sports venues. Travellers and residents along the Seine will require a QR code to access security checkpoints.
Snipers will be stationed atop buildings near the Seine and other landmarks, while bomb-sniffing dogs will search for conventional and unconventional weapons in squares, parks, and train stations. National security personnel are actively monitoring close to 10,000 individuals on France’s terrorist watch list, and authorities are closely reviewing requests for prison parole and Airbnb rentals.
Due to security concerns, Macron mentioned in mid-April that the ceremony might relocate to Stade de France if the threat level became too severe. However, French authorities announced on Monday that the events will proceed as initially scheduled for the big day, with no alternative preparations underway at this time.
