Europe gears up for Paris Olympics amid heightened terror threats

As millions of visitors descend on Paris for the Summer Olympic Games starting Friday, the city is on high alert for terrorist attacks, with tens of thousands of armed soldiers patrolling the Seine River, reported Xinhua.

"If there is one event that is under pressure, it's the Olympic Games," said Christophe Dubi, an International Olympic Committee executive.

According to French media reports, approximately 35,000 police officers and gendarmes were mobilized daily for the Olympics. This number increased to 45,000 for the opening ceremony, along with 18,000 soldiers.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has announced that one million administrative investigations will be conducted on individuals associated with the Olympic Games, including employees of security companies and volunteers.

The threat extends beyond Paris, with many parts of Europe also preparing for potential terrorist attacks during the world's premier sporting event. The threat is considered especially high after a deadly attack on a Moscow concert hall in late March. The worst terrorist incident in Russia in years, it left 145 people dead and over 500 injured.

The Islamic State group (IS) claimed responsibility for the Moscow attack. Meanwhile, Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K), a regional branch of IS in Afghanistan, has called for further violence in Russia and Europe, with an emphasis on sporting events.

A 2023 report from the Belgian State Security Service warned that the Olympics could be a potential target for terrorist attacks. Intelligence services from several European countries have therefore sent liaison officers to Paris.

On Thursday, Darmanin said France had received reinforcements of 1,750 police officers, gendarmes, and civil security officers from 44 countries to support the French internal security forces.

In Belgium, three out of seven individuals arrested on Thursday during an anti-terrorist operation were charged on Friday with participating in the activities of a terrorist group and preparing a terrorist attack, according to the federal prosecutor. French press agency AFP said they are suspected of involvement with ISIS-K.

Citing increased security risks, the Dutch government has raised its travel advisory rating for France from green to yellow. It has called for heightened caution for Dutch nationals, especially those attending the Olympics.

Since June, the Netherlands has elevated its terrorism threat level to four out of five, indicating a substantial likelihood of a terror attack.

Almost two-thirds of citizens of EU countries are concerned about the security of the European Union, according to a new Eurobarometer survey published on Friday.

Around 47 percent of EU citizens surveyed said they were "fairly worried" about the security of the bloc over the next five years, while another 17 percent said they were "very worried."

In history, The Olympics have been targeted by terrorists several times. During the 1972 Munich Games, a Palestinian terrorist group killed 11 Israeli athletes and coaches after taking them hostage in the Olympic Village. At the 1996 Atlanta Games, a pipe bomb explosion killed one person and injured over 100.