France has asked for help to ensure security during the Olympic Games in Paris. Poland and Germany are sending security forces. After the attack near Moscow, France declared the highest terror alert level.
France has requested international help for security during the Summer Olympics in Paris. “Several foreign countries will reinforce us in critical areas, such as dog handlers, where the need is enormous,” a French Defense Ministry official told AFP. The Interior Ministry reported that Paris asked 46 countries to send 2,185 police officers in January.
The Polish government said its armed forces would join the international coalition set up by France to support preparations and security for the games. Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz wrote this on the X platform (formerly Twitter). The task force will also include dog handlers. The main task should be detecting explosives and combating terrorism.
The federal police are also helping in France. At the Olympic and Paralympic Games, German officials will be responsible for protecting the German House and are also expected to support the gendarmerie in securing public spaces.
Highest Terror alert level in France
This year the French capital will host the Summer Olympics from July 26th to August 11th. After the IS terrorist attack near Moscow, France raised the terror alert level. The highest of three warning levels now applies there.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal justified the move by saying that the “Islamic State” had claimed responsibility for the attack in Russia. This organization also threatens France and was recently involved in several attack plans against Germany and France, among others, which were thwarted, said Attal.
The Olympic Games have been attacked in the past, for example in Munich in 1972 and in Atlanta in 1996. Thousands of athletes, huge crowds and global television audiences make the Games a target for terrorists.
Tens of thousands Security forces in use
Securing the major sporting event presents France’s security forces with major challenges. Up to 45,000 French police and gendarmes are to be deployed daily during the Olympic Games. According to government figures, 18,000 soldiers will also be mobilized. In addition, 18,000 to 22,000 private security guards will be deployed.
France’s Interior Minister Gérard Darmanin recently emphasized that the French police, gendarmerie and intelligence services are ready to ensure the security of the games. France is particularly threatened, especially during the Olympic Games, because it represents universal values, said the minister.
The Paris Olympic organizers point out that since the serious attacks in Paris in 2015, the terrorist threat has been systematically taken into account when designing security precautions in France. From 2019 onwards, security plans for the Olympics have been designed with the authorities taking this threat into account. “Our country is familiar with organizing events of great international importance. It has always faced this threat to ensure exemplary, festive and safe events even in extremely difficult circumstances,” said the Olympic organizing team.