The specter of terrorism has cast a shadow over two previous Olympic games, and concerns are mounting that it may disrupt a third.
Despite the vigilance of law enforcement, the threat of a terrorist attack at this year's Summer Olympics in Paris is becoming increasingly plausible.
French officials have already thwarted one potential terror plot. An 18-year-old man was charged on Friday with planning to target spectators at the soccer tournament, according to The Associated Press.
The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed by authorities, allegedly intended to execute a "violent action" on behalf of the Islamic State group at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne, which will host several matches during the tournament. The police reported that the man was driven by a desire "to die and become a martyr."
Details about what led security to the suspect remain unclear. However, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin stated that the Chechen suspect was apprehended on May 22 on suspicion of plotting the terror attack. The committee responsible for organizing the games confirmed that they were informed of the man's arrest.
In a statement, the organizing committee emphasized that "Security is the highest priority of Paris 2024. We are working daily in close coordination with the Interior Ministry and all stakeholders and will continue to be fully mobilized." The committee also commended France's intelligence and security services for their swift response.
Bev Priestman, the coach of Canada's women's soccer team, which is slated to play at the stadium where the attacks were allegedly planned, expressed her trust in the organizers to ensure safety. "That's a concern to hear, but I think a little bit like in Tokyo, the Olympic Committee, I would imagine that they're going to step in and I think our faith and trust will be in making it a secure and safe environment for our players," she said.
However, the upcoming games are not without their concerns, especially considering the event's high profile amid escalating global political tension. The AP noted that "Security concerns are notably high for the exceptional opening ceremony, which brings more than 100 world leaders to the French capital." The ceremony will feature a 6-kilometer open-air parade along the Seine River, with athletes on boats and large crowds watching from the embankments.
In April, French President Emmanuel Macron suggested that the July 26 opening ceremony could be relocated to the country's national stadium if the security threat is deemed too high.
Terrorist attacks have marred two previous Olympic games. The 1972 Summer Games in Munich, Germany, were overshadowed by the murder of 11 Israeli athletes by the Palestinian militant group Black September. In 1996, a white supremacist affiliated with the Christian identity movement planted a bomb at the Centennial Olympic Park during the Summer Games in Atlanta, Georgia, resulting in one death.
Adding to the concerns is the reported increase in support from Iran currently considered the world's most dangerous state terrorist actor for its proxy groups throughout Europe in the lead-up to the games. The Jerusalem Post reported that Israel's Mossad released a statement on Thursday highlighting the activities of two criminal groups, FOXTROT and RUMBA, ahead of the games.
These groups, funded by Iran, are "directly responsible for a violent activity and the promotion of terrorism in Sweden and throughout Europe," according to Mossad's statement. The report also alleged that Tehran was behind the actors responsible for violence outside of two Israeli embassies in Europe, one in Belgium and one in Sweden, in the past month alone.
The report further alleged that Tehran was seeking to expand its proxy groups via the heightened anti-Semitism since Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks on Israel and the subsequent response of the Israeli government.
While the Islamic State group is hardly an ally of Iran's, it's worth noting that they have fewer resources than the Iranian government and a diminished reach compared to the terror group's peak in the mid-2010s. Given the current climate and the openness of Europe, it's not a question of if but when and where the attacks are planned and whether authorities can intervene in time to prevent them.
This fact, coupled with the willingness of a state actor to engage with these terror cells, should give every athlete, spectator, and world leader pause.
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