French police have launched an investigation into death threats directed at three Israeli athletes participating in the Paris Olympic Games. The Paris prosecutor’s office announced the investigation on Sunday, stating that anti-cybercrime officers are also examining the release of athlete’s personal data on social media platforms that occurred on Friday. Their goal is to have this information removed.
On Thursday, Israel’s National Cyber Directorate revealed that their investigation concluded that Iranian hackers were behind the creation of social media channels used to disseminate personal information about Israeli athletes and send threatening messages. The same day, Israel’s foreign minister expressed concerns to his French counterpart regarding a potential Iranian-backed plot targeting Israeli athletes and tourists during the Games.
In response to these allegations, the Iranian mission to the United Nations issued a statement on Thursday denying any involvement in terrorist acts and asserting that their actions are driven by principles of resistance.
Israeli authorities have implemented heightened security measures to safeguard their athletes. Elite tactical units are escorting athletes to and from events, providing them with 24-hour protection throughout the Olympics. The Israeli internal security service, Shin Bet, is actively assisting with these efforts. An Israeli diplomatic source expressed full support for the measures taken by French authorities, highlighting that this action sends a powerful message to individuals and organizations attempting to threaten athletes.
