Paris: Paris is on high alert as the 2024 Olympics have begun. On Friday night, Paris held a never-seen-before Opening Ceremony with extensive security measures in place.
The capital’s streets were sealed off and up to 45,000 police and gendarmes along with 10,000 soldiers were deployed.
Metal barriers had been set up along the River Seine to ensure safety.
Paris Olympics: Security Arrangements So Far
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin held a final security meeting on Friday afternoon with various government and police officials, just a few hours before the opening ceremony.
In the meeting, Darmanin stated that “all security measures are implemented, and everything is positive.” He praised the efforts of police, fire brigades, and bomb disposal experts. Darmanin also noted that Parisian bridges were closed to vehicles and pedestrians as part of a vast anti-terrorism perimeter.
France had been on high alert over the past few weeks as preparations to host the Olympics reached their final stretch.
Authorities thwarted several plots to disrupt the Games, including the arrest of a 40-year-old Russian man suspected of planning to “destabilize the Olympic Games.”
Additionally, around 1,000 people suspected of foreign interference were blocked from attending the Olympics.
About 1 million background checks were conducted, leading to the exclusion of 5,000 people, including those with suspected ties to foreign interference or spying, according to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.
Crimes Reported in Paris in the Past Few Weeks
Recent incidents included sabotage of the French rail network, which caused delays for travelers and Olympic athletes. Fires were reported near high-speed rail lines, and officials condemned the acts as “criminal actions.” A national investigation was launched, with potential sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years.
In another incident, Brazilian soccer legend Zico reported a robbery in Paris. A bag containing valuables was stolen from his vehicle, prompting an investigation by Paris prosecutors.
“Zico, a member of the Brazilian delegation attending the Olympics, said a bag containing valuables had been stolen from his vehicle, which had a window open, in the 19th district of Paris,” according to the prosecutors’ statement.
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