Who might be behind attacks on the Olympics and how France counters them

Despite the smooth opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics, France's security system failed to prevent a major sabotage on the railways.

This Olympics is taking place in the unique context, with Islamist terrorists planning attacks and Russian intelligence agents being identified.

Read more about the threats French security forces are facing and their possible origins in the article by Iryna Kutielieva, a European Pravda journalist – Olympics under threat of terrorism: how France is protecting the Games from Islamists and Russian agents.

Friday, July 26, was supposed to be remembered as the opening day of the largest sporting event. However, the Paris Olympics kicked off with a powerful act of sabotage.

Just hours before the opening ceremony, coordinated sabotage was reported on several French railway lines, affecting the Atlantic, northern and eastern lines, and threatening international connections. The national railway operator, SNCF, called it a "massive attack aimed at paralysing the high-speed network."

Initially, Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete spoke of "coordinated malicious actions," and then Acting Prime Minister Gabriel Attal noted that the facts indicate deliberate sabotage.

An anonymous group of radical left-wing activists allegedly took responsibility for the large-scale sabotage, but Interior Minister Darmanin pointed to the possibility of foreign involvement in the attack.

So far, it has not been officially announced which country might be behind the railway sabotage. However, only a few months ago, European intelligence services warned that Russia had been planning sabotage across the continent, including on railways.

In April, President Macron declared that he had no doubt that Russia would try to disrupt the Olympics.

The French Interior Minister also expressed concerns about Russian attempts to use the Olympics for espionage or to discredit France.

The Russian link has been identified in other incidents in France that are somehow related to the Olympics.

A study published in June showed that Russia had organised a disinformation campaign aimed at discrediting both the International Olympic Committee and President Macron, seeking to demonstrate their inability to ensure the safety of the Games.

Using artificial intelligence to create fake videos, Russia attempted to sow fear to dissuade spectators from attending the Olympics.

Along with powerful disinformation campaigns, real threats emerged when several Russians were detained for potentially preparing sabotage or terrorist attacks.

But there is another threat that has become common for France–Islamist terrorism. This time it was "fueled" by events in the Middle East.

As the Olympic Games are taking place amid the war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas, the threat of attacks from radical Islamists has significantly increased.

France has now provided round-the-clock security for Israeli athletes both within and outside the Olympic Village. No one wants to another bloody Olympics as in 1972 in Munich, when Palestinian terrorists seized and then killed the Israeli team.

Thus, the Paris Olympics are already facing the highest level of threats and various dangers.

The first days of the competition have revealed gaps in security measures. Spectators and participants of the Olympics hope that new serious incidents, especially terrorist attacks, will be avoided.