French police have opened an investigation into death threats received by three Israeli athletes at the Olympic Games.
The Paris prosecutors’ office said anti-cybercrime officers are also probing the release of competitors’ personal data on social networks and trying to have it removed.
Meanwhile, Olympics organisers said they have asked French authorities to investigate anti-Semitic gestures during Israel’s men’s football match against Paraguay on Saturday.
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The Israeli national anthem was booed by some at the Parc des Princes, where there was also a “Genocide Olympics” banner and Palestinian flags on display.
Fans with the banner and flags were seen being removed from the stands by stewards as Paraguay went on to win the Group D game 4-2.
Spectators hold a banner reading “Genocide Olympics”. Pic: AP
Paris 2024 organisers told Sky News: “During the men’s football match between Israel and Paraguay at the Parc des Princes on 27 July, a banner bearing a political message was displayed and anti-Semitic gestures were made.
“Paris 2024 strongly condemns these acts. A complaint has been lodged by Paris 2024, which is at the disposal of the authorities to assist with the investigation.”
Against the background of the ongoing conflict with Gaza, Israeli athletes in Paris are being escorted to and from events by elite tactical units and given 24-hour protection, according to officials.
Some 11 Israeli athletes and a German police officer were killed by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Munich Games.
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Israel’s internal security service, Shin Bet, is helping with security and an Israeli diplomatic source said they had “total support for the measures that are being taken by the French authorities”.
“This sends an important message to individuals and organisations attempting to threaten athletes,” the source added.
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In a statement on Thursday, Israel’s National Cyber Directorate said, that after an investigation, it had concluded Iranian hackers were creating social media channels to publish personal information about members of the Israeli delegation and send them threatening messages.
On the same day, Israel’s foreign minister warned his French counterpart of a potential Iranian-backed plot to target Israeli athletes and tourists during the Games.
The Iranian mission to the United Nations said in a statement on Thursday: “Terrorist acts have no place in the principles of resistance groups; lies and deceit cannot switch the roles of the plaintiff and the accused.”
