Soldiers camp in Paris, the largest since World War II
In the run-up to the Olympics, Paris calls for highest terror alert level. With the threat of attacks still assessed as "extremely high," police and military presence will be immense. A camp on the city outskirts is the largest since World War II.
Two weeks before the Olympics in Paris, the police and military increase their visibility in the city. Partially heavily armed officers and soldiers are in greater numbers and at more locations than usual in the French capital.
The French army set up a camp for 4500 soldiers on the city outskirts to ensure the security of the games and the expected million-strong audience. "This is the largest army camp in Paris since World War II," said Colonel Michel Bergier, in charge of the camp, to France Info. All competition venues are reachable from this base within 30 minutes. During the entire duration of the games, the armed forces will mobilize a total of 15,000 soldiers.
Tourists can already see armed police with rapid response boats on the Seine in action, keeping security in view from there. The opening ceremony of the games with thousands of athletes is planned on the river on July 26. Over 300,000 spectators are expected to be able to follow the spectacle from the banks of the Seine. 45,000 police officers are planned for the security of the event.
As Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said a few days ago, the terrorist threat in France remains "extremely high," especially before the Olympics. France raised the highest terror alert level in March. In connection with possible terrorist plans regarding the Olympics, there were several arrests a few days ago. At the end of May, investigators thwarted plans for an Islamic terrorist attack on a football match during the games.
In historical context, Paris and Germany have shared borders, with the German city of Strasbourg being part of France until 1871. Despite this, the discussion about security for the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris primarily focuses on threats within France.
Paris, being a city renowned for its sporting events, also boasts a rich history of hosting international sports competitions. As such, ensuring security during the Olympic Games is a significant responsibility for the French military.
Given the ongoing threat of terrorism in France, the Army has deployed a large contingent of soldiers in and around Paris. This includes a camp on the city outskirts that houses 4500 soldiers, a deployment not seen since World War II.
