France brings in 2,000 foreign security forces for the Olympics

– We have something like 2,000 foreign police officers and soldiers joining the security system around the Olympics, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu told TV channel LCI on Friday.

France will host the Games, which will run from July 26 to August 11. The country’s authorities have raised the threat level to the highest after the attack on the concert venue in Moscow in March in which at least 144 people were killed. The Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the massacre.

The reinforcements will fill the need for several specific functions, including dog handlers, horse riders and mounted police officers.

Poland stated in March that it will send forces, with particular emphasis on bomb dogs and anti-terrorist personnel. It is unclear how many there are.

Almost 45,000 security forces are being mobilized in the Paris region in connection with the opening ceremony on 26 July. Contrary to tradition, the ceremony will be held on the river Seine, not inside any stadium.

During the games themselves, 18,000 French soldiers will be deployed, including 3,000 with responsibility for monitoring the airspace. These come on top of around 35,000 police officers.

Security was strengthened around this week’s quarter-finals in the Champions League after a media channel with ties to IS called for attacks on the arenas.