Iranian terrorists may attack Israeli athletes at Paris Olympics: Tel Aviv warns France

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz haswarned of an Iranian-backed plot to attack the Israeli athletesparticipating in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Karz shared the inputs ina letter to his French counterpart,Stéphane Séjourné.

Katz said the Israeli government had intelligence of the possible attack, with proxies of the Iranian terror groups looking to execute it.

“There are those who seek to undermine the celebratory nature of this joyous event,” wrote Katz.

“We currently have assessments regarding the potential threat posed by Iranian terrorist proxies and other terrorist organizations who aim to carry out attacks against members of the Israeli delegation and Israeli tourists during the Olympics.”

The Paris Olympics started on July 24 with the football match between Argentina and Morocco but the opening ceremony takes place on Friday (Jul 26). Notably, as many as 88 Israeli athletes are participating in the Paris Games.

They have been under round-the-clock protection from French security services, besides being guarded by Shin Bet (Israeli security agency)officials.

Athletes receive threatening message

Prior to the quadrennial event, Israeli athletes have received threatening messages by email and phone. The first messages were sent to 15 athletes' emails and were signed by an entity that identified itself as “the People’s Defense Organization,” which doesn’t exist.

“The People’s Defense Organization announces that it intends to harm any Israeli presence at the Olympics. TheJewish lobby that controls the French Parliament won’t decide anything anymore," read the message.

The message warned that there would be a repeat of the events of Munich 1972 where terrorists belonging to the Black September group broke into the Olympic village and took Israel athletes hostage - eventually killing 11 and a German police officer.

"Therefore, you’re not invited to Paris 2024. If you come, take into account that we intend to repeat the events of Munich 1972,” it added.

Israel's opening ceremony flagbearer, Peter Paltchik, swimerre Meiron Amir Cheruti and several others received invitations to their own funerals, Israeli media reports claimed.

(With inputs from agencies)