France wants foreign troops to reinforce Olympics security – media — RT World News
Just three months before the event, the attack in Russia prompted Paris to tighten counter-terrorism measures
France called on its international allies to help boost security during the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, Agence France-Presse reported on Thursday, citing government sources.
According to the report, Paris asked 46 countries to send 2,185 police reinforcements throughout the duration of the Games to take over tasks that require additional specialists.
The French authorities have not yet confirmed that such a request has been made, but Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kuciniak-Kamisz said on Thursday Announce On X (formerly Twitter) that his country's armed forces would do so “Joining the international coalition established by France” To provide more security at the Olympic Games. He did not reveal the size of the unit that Warsaw plans to send, but he indicated that it would deploy dog units that would be its mission “Detecting explosives and countering terrorist activities.”
A source in the Ministry of Interior told Agence France-Presse that the request for reinforcements is A “A classic step for host countries before organizing major events.” However, the news comes just days after Paris raised the country's terror threat level to its highest level following the deadly attack in Moscow, which killed more than 140 people.
On March 22, four gunmen stormed the Crocus City Hall concert hall outside Moscow, opening fire and setting the building on fire. The militants were allegedly recruited on behalf of ISIS-K, an offshoot of the terrorist group Islamic State based in Afghanistan.
Russian investigators later open The perpetrators of the attack received funding for the attack from Ukraine.
In a press statement following the attack in Russia, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said that the threat of terrorism in France exists “Real and powerful” He added that the country's intelligence services have foiled 45 terrorist plots since 2017. He noted that France's current counter-terrorism security measures, part of the country's national security alert system called the Vigipirate Plan, will be tightened in the coming weeks, with security forces maintaining a presence. Most visible on streets and in front of potential targets such as government buildings, transportation infrastructure and schools.
The Vigipirate plan has been in place since 2015, when France faced a series of devastating terrorist acts linked to ISIS. These attacks included attacks on the Bataclan concert hall, the Stade de France, drive-by shootings, and suicide bombings throughout Paris.
This year, the Olympic Games will be held from July 26 to August 11. About 45,000 French police and gendarmes, 18,000 soldiers and up to 22,000 private security guards are expected to work at the Games, Agence France-Presse reported, citing official figures.
