French authorities have opened an investigation after three Israeli athletes were threatened in emails sent to the Olympic delegation, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office on July 28.
On July 25, one day before the official opening ceremony of the Paris Games, Israel warned French authorities of potential threats against Israeli athletes and tourists from Iran-backed terrorist groups.
On that same day, Israel’s National Cyber Directorate said that an investigation concluded that Iranian hackers were creating social media channels to publish personal information about members of the Israeli delegation and send them threatening messages.
It was later confirmed by Israeli security officials that a bot generated some of the threats on social media and not a real organization that could pose a real threat to athletes, the Times of Israel reported.
The threats were reported by French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, whose office later confirmed that the national anti-online hate body will lead the investigation into the incident.
France has implemented vast security measures in preparation for the Olympic Games, with around 50,000 security staff present at the opening ceremony alone, as well as the deployment of around 18,000 troops in addition to regular police.
More than 150 people were put under surveillance measures ahead of the Games, limiting their movements, as part of a recently initiated security operation, which authorities have implemented under anti-terror laws.
In addition, French authorities have also implemented additional security measures via the use of radar-surveillance planes and Reaper drones, which are ready to monitor any sensitive sites from the air.
Israeli athletes have been put under 24-hour protection since they arrived in Paris, with security escorting them to and from the Olympic sites and additional Shin Bet security assigned to them. Israeli athletes have previously also faced threats ahead of the first Olympic Games being held during Israeli wartime.
According to Israeli media reports last week, many members of the Israeli delegation had received threatening emails and phone calls, with references made to the 1972 Munich Olympics, which saw the “Black September” terrorist group take multiple Israeli athletes hostage and kill 12 people.
The most recent threats come as Israel is engaged in a war with the terrorist group Hamas in Gaza, which started when more than 1,200 people were killed and over 250 people were taken hostage in an Oct. 7 massacre last year.
Reuters contributed to this article.