France is leaving nothing to chance when it comes to security at the Olympic Games in Paris, which start on Friday, and some people in the capital may feel like they are in a fortress.
Armed police are patrolling the streets and manning roadblocks, helicopters are in the air and speedboats are on the River Seine to deter and prevent attacks on the Olympic Games from July 26 to August 11.
The military is also involved and the highest terror alert level has been in effect since March.
Security has been a major concern since Paris was awarded the Games in 2017. On Friday alone, 45,000 security personnel will be present at the opening ceremony, which for the first time will not be held in a stadium but on the Seine and its banks.
Acting Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin called the overall terrorist threat “extremely high”.
There have been knife attacks on a police officer and a soldier, and a car has driven into the terrace of a restaurant.
But Darmanin told Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper on Sunday that “as far as we know, there is no specific threat to the security of the Olympic Games.”
Tony Estanguet, the president of Paris 2024, said at a press conference: “There is a special plan for the opening ceremony and each match to guarantee security.” He added that people’s safety is “priority number 1”.
Arrests and thwarted terrorist plans
Arrests have been made in the run-up to possible terrorist threats.
In late May, security forces foiled plans by Islamist militants to attack an Olympic football match in the city of Saint-Étienne. The Interior Ministry recently announced that more people had been arrested.
A Russian-Ukrainian man was also arrested after he injured himself when a homemade explosive device detonated.
According to intelligence firm Recorded Future, successful attacks have become less likely due to security measures and the highest terror alert, but vigilance is required.
“The Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda supporters in Europe are almost certainly planning to attack the Olympic Games in Paris,” Recorded Future reported.
Large military presence
France has made every effort, including setting up a 4,500-strong army camp in Paris and establishing a total military presence of 15,000 in Paris and the other Olympic venues.
Security forces from other countries are also present, partly to protect their own athletes. For example, there are police cars from Qatar and officers from the Arab country who patrol together with French officers.
The French Air Force is monitoring the airspace to be prepared to take action against drones approaching sensitive areas.
AI-based surveillance
Paris also uses video surveillance based on artificial intelligence in certain places, but without facial recognition.
The aim is to detect people entering non-public or sensitive areas, detect abandoned luggage and unusually large groups of people, and monitor people’s movements in risk areas.
Cyber threats
French security services are also prepared for hacking and cyber attacks aimed at disrupting the Games and damaging their image.
Recorded Future has identified Russia and Iran as potential actors in such plans, but also Azerbaijan because France supports Armenia in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan.
Cyberattacks could also occur in connection with the wars in Ukraine and Gaza as activists seek to draw attention to the Olympics, Recorded Future said.
The French cybersecurity agency developed a strategy two years ago to counter such attacks. This strategy includes prevention and countermeasures in the event of such an attack during the Paris Olympics.
