On High Alert? France Announces Highest Terror Alert Level with Deployment of Armed Personnel for the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony

The Olympic Games are just under a week away, and security has become the primary concern. It was reported today that France has raised its security level to the highest terror alert in order to ensure the smooth running of the Olympic Games.

Paris is described as being like a besieged city, with armed soldiers patrolling to guard against terror and danger. Police have set up roadblocks, helicopters are flying overhead, police speedboats are traveling on the Seine River, and tourists often cannot pass through certain streets and alleys. This is due to several terrorist attacks that France has experienced previously.

For the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, over 45,000 armed personnel will be deployed in Paris. According to Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, the terrorism threat in France remains “very high,” especially before the Olympics. Just recently, a police officer and a soldier were attacked with a knife, and a car rammed into a restaurant’s terrace.

In addition to the armed personnel, 15,000 soldiers are stationed in Paris. To counter threats, hundreds of special forces from the French Air Force are monitoring airspace from multiple bases. One of their objectives is to suppress drones that may approach sensitive areas. To monitor the movements of millions of visitors, Paris will use AI-based video surveillance to a limited extent. The use of algorithm-based smart technology evaluates camera images to detect intrusions into non-public or sensitive areas.