Summer games in Paris - France prioritizes maximum security for Olympics
Immediately before the start of the Olympic Games, Paris resembles a besieged city for tourists, as there is often no way through for them. Armed soldiers patrol for protection against terror and threats, policemen secure roadblocks, helicopters are in the air, and fast boats with officers are on the Seine. The neighboring country is fully mobilized in security matters.
From the beginning, security was a major theme for the Games in Paris, which has already been hit by terrorism multiple times. Forty-five thousand security forces will be in action alone for the opening of the Games on Friday. France declared the highest terror alert level in March.
As Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin recently said, the terrorist threat in France remains "extremely high," especially before the Olympic Games. There have been several incidents in the last few days that have alarmed the response teams. Twice there were knife attacks on a policeman and a soldier, and a car crashed into the terrace of a restaurant.
However, there was no connection to terror and the Olympic Games. "As far as we know, there is no specific threat to the security of the Olympic Games," Darmanin said just in "Le Journal du Dimanche."
Arrests and thwarted terror plans
There have been several arrests in connection with possible terror plans related to the Games. At the end of May, investigators thwarted plans for an Islamic terrorist attack on a soccer match during the Games in the south of France. And recently, the Interior Minister announced more arrests. A Russian-Ukrainian man was arrested in a hotel near the airport who was injured in the explosion of a homemade bomb.
"Supporters of the Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaeda in Europe are planning with near certainty to attack the Olympic Games in Paris," according to an analysis by the globally operating intelligence company Recorded Future on the concrete danger of attacks. Due to the security measures and the highest terror alert level, successful attacks are now less likely.
15,000 soldiers on duty
France has taken maximum precautions against such threats. In addition to the tens of thousands of policemen who were called up from all over the country to Paris and the other hosting cities for the Games, the army has set up a camp for 4,500 soldiers in the capital. During the entire duration of the Games, the armed forces will mobilize a total of 15,000 soldiers.
In addition, there are security forces from other countries in limited numbers, who travel to protect their own athletes. Police vehicles from Qatar and officers from the Arab country were already causing a stir in Paris as they patrolled the Metro with their French colleagues.
Hundreds of special forces from the French Air Force monitor the airspace from several bases. This includes, among other things, making potentially dangerous drones harmless in sensitive areas.
AI-based video technology monitors crowds
To monitor the movements of millions of visitors, video surveillance using artificial intelligence will be used to a limited extent in Paris. The analysis of camera images with intelligent, algorithm-based technology should enable the detection of people entering non-public or sensitive areas, as well as unusual movements of crowds, an unusually large gathering of people, and unattended luggage. Facial recognition through the cameras will not be possible.
Beside concrete acts of violence, France's security agencies are also preparing for Hacking- and Cyberattacks during the Games. It is to be expected that there will be massive attempts to instill fear among visitors, undermine the reputation of the Games, and disrupt their course, warned security experts.
Cyberattacks anticipated
In its threat analysis for the Parisian Games, Recorded Future names, besides Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan as potential state actors for Cyberattacks. Azerbaijan has France in its sights because France supports Armenia in the conflict with Azerbaijan over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
In connection with the Ukraine War and Middle Eastern Conflicts, Recorded Future expects Cyberattacks on the Olympic Games, as activists want to take advantage of the international attention. Groups with links to the Iranian government are capable of carrying out hacking attacks with more severe consequences.
Two years ago, France's Cybersecurity Agency began developing a strategy to counter such attacks. Besides protecting actors and systems and prevention, the strategy includes the ability to react to concrete attacks during the Games, the French government in Paris stated.
- The city of Paris, which will host the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in 2024, is currently under high security measures due to the "extremely high" terrorist threat, as stated by Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.
- In preparation for the Olympic Games, the neighboring country has mobilized its resources, with France declaring the highest terror alert level in March.
- To ensure security during the games, over 45,000 security forces will be in action, including police and soldiers, as well as helicopters and fast boats patrolling the Seine.
- Hundreds of special forces from the French Air Force monitor the airspace, making potentially dangerous drones harmless in sensitive areas.
- In addition, AI-based video technology will be used to monitor crowds, with cameras analyzing movements to detect unusual activities or unattended luggage.
- France's security agencies also anticipate cyberattacks during the Games, with potential state actors like Russia, Iran, and Azerbaijan identified as potential threats.
