As preparations ramp up for the 2024 Paris Olympics, set to commence on July 26, the head of Paris’ police force has underscored the primary security threat facing the Games: Islamist terrorism. During a press briefing on Friday, Paris Police Chief Laurent Nunez emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “There is no clear-cut threat yet against the Games and our country but I’d like to remind you that at the end of May, two individuals were arrested in Saint-Etienne and were plotting a project aimed directly at the Olympic Games.”
Nunez also highlighted other significant threats, noting that the risk of terrorism is “just as important as the protest threat posed by radical environmental groups, the ultra-left, and the pro-Palestinian movement.”
Recent Arrests and Foiled Plots
In a stark reminder of the ongoing risks, French authorities recently arrested an 18-year-old man from Chechnya who was planning terrorist attacks targeting spectators and police at several soccer matches scheduled for the Summer Games. These events will be held at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne. According to French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, the suspect aimed to attack the Olympic events in an attempt “to die and become a martyr.”
Potential Changes to Olympic Venues
Concerns about security have prompted French President Emmanuel Macron to consider alternative plans for the opening ceremony, which is currently set to take place on the River Seine. In April, Macron assured the public that if security threats are deemed too high, the ceremony would be relocated to the national stadium. “If we think there are risks, depending on our analysis of the context, we have fallback scenarios,” Macron said.
Broader Threat Landscape
The threat of terrorism extends beyond France. Edmund Fitton-Brown, a former UN official specializing in sanctions and threat assessment, warned in April that ISIS supporters from Central Asia could target Europe, expressing particular concern about the Paris Olympics. “I hope I’m wrong,” Fitton-Brown told CNN, “but I’m very worried about the Paris Olympics.”
In late March, an ISIS spokesperson incited followers to carry out terror attacks against Jews and Christians in Israel and throughout the Western world. Abu Hudhayfah al-Ansari, an Islamic State spokesperson, called for more attacks to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the caliphate declared in Iraq and Syria in 2014, praising a deadly shooting in Moscow and urging further violence.
Historical and Geopolitical Context
The 2024 Paris Olympics are expected to draw over 15 million visitors, creating a complex security challenge. Jean-Baptiste Guégan, a specialist in sports geopolitics, remarked in March that security concerns for these Games are unparalleled since the Cold War. “All current tensions, such as the [ongoing] Israeli-Hamas conflict, will be projected onto the Olympics. Thinking that sport is apolitical is a myth,” he stated.
The shadow of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre, where the Palestinian terrorist group Black September took hostages and murdered 11 Israeli athletes, their staff, and a German police officer, looms large over current preparations. “My greatest fear, and I am not the only one to share it, is that we have a rekindling of the memory of Munich and the desire of certain actors to make Paris a new Munich,” Guégan said. He added, “The threat is complex. We can imagine isolated actors who would attack the crowd and in particular identify Israeli supporters or even Israeli representatives on French soil.”
Preparing for the Worst
As the countdown to the 2024 Paris Olympics continues, French authorities remain vigilant. The multifaceted nature of the threats—from Islamist terrorism to radical protests—necessitates a robust and adaptive security strategy to ensure the safety of all participants and spectators. The lessons of past tragedies and the current geopolitical climate underscore the importance of thorough preparation and swift response capabilities.
