"Munich Massacre Reenactment and Funeral Day Threat Message to Israeli Team [Paris Olympics]"

"Email and Phone Threats to Israeli Athletes"
"Fake Organization Created by AI Bot"
Concerns Over Retaliatory Terror Persist Amid Prolonged Middle East War

[Image source=UPI Yonhap News]

The Israeli delegation participating in the Paris Olympics has reportedly received threatening messages via email and phone, drawing attention to the issue of athlete security. According to an investigation by Israeli authorities, the organization sending the threatening messages to the athletes was revealed to be a fake group created using an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot. However, given the ongoing Middle East conflict, there remains a possibility of actual terrorist attacks. French authorities have even deployed combat troops in preparation.

"Waiting for attacks every moment at airports, hotels" Israeli athletes threatened

On the 18th (local time), near the Champs-?lys?es street in Paris, France, police officers are conducting an on-site investigation after a police officer was injured in a stabbing attack.
[Image source=Reuters·Yonhap News]

According to The Times of Israel, as of the 21st (local time), 15 athletes from the Israeli delegation participating in the Paris Olympics have received threatening messages via email and phone. The messages, sent under the name of an organization called the People’s Defense Organization, contained threatening content suggesting that Israeli athletes at the Paris Olympics could be targeted by terrorism.

The People’s Defense Organization warned in the message, "If you participate in the Paris Olympics, remember that we will cause another Munich massacre," and added, "If Zionists continue to threaten the Palestinian people, their fate will be the same as that of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip." The Munich massacre refers to the 1972 incident during the Munich Olympics in Germany, when the Palestinian armed terrorist group Black September stormed the Israeli athletes' village and massacred all 11 hostages.

The organization also sent threatening messages stating that operatives have already been dispatched throughout Paris, waiting for the moment to carry out an attack. The People’s Defense Organization claimed, "Our operatives are waiting for the attack signal every moment Israeli athletes arrive at airports and hotels in Paris," and "No one will be able to stop us from executing our plan." According to The Times of Israel, some Israeli athletes even received text messages saying that the 27th would be their funeral day.

Israeli authorities investigate... "Fake organization created by AI bot with no real existence"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Israeli authorities immediately launched an investigation but stated they would not overreact for now. The Israeli Olympic Committee said in a statement, "We take this matter seriously and do not take it lightly, but we are not overly alarmed," adding, "There is currently no immediate concern that these threats will materialize." They continued, "The possibility of such threats was anticipated, and we have instructed athletes on how to respond and held many meetings," expressing confidence that "Israel has sufficient security capabilities."

Israeli security authorities also investigated the threatening messages and found that the People’s Defense Organization does not officially exist as a terrorist group, and the messages sent were fake threats created by an AI chatbot.

Israeli officials expect that throughout the Paris Olympics, such online threats and social media posts criticizing Israel will continue to flood in. This is due to the prolonged conflict with Hamas since last October and the increasing civilian casualties among Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which have led to growing international criticism of Israel.

Earlier, pro-Palestinian protesters and anti-war groups demanded that Israel be stripped of its Olympic participation rights, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) opposed such sanctions, and FIFA also postponed decisions regarding banning the Israeli team from the Paris Olympics. As a result, the Israeli delegation will be able to participate in all Olympic events.

Ongoing Middle East conflict sustains terror threats... France deploys combat troops for security

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

French authorities are on high alert for the possibility of terrorist attacks. According to CNN, more than 30,000 police officers and military police, 20,000 combat troops, and approximately 22,000 private security personnel will be deployed throughout Paris. Given the ongoing Middle East conflict and the war in Ukraine, there are concerns that various armed groups could carry out terrorist acts during the Olympics.

The French government has also re-conducted background checks on Paris Olympic volunteers, revoking volunteer status from those identified as security risks. According to the British daily The Telegraph, on the 14th, G?rald Darmanin, France’s Minister of the Interior, stated at a press conference, "We conducted investigations to filter out volunteers who could pose a threat to the Olympics and national security," adding, "So far, 770,000 investigations have been conducted, resulting in the exclusion of 3,570 individuals deemed risky."

Security measures have been further tightened following a shooting incident involving former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Screening of over one million individuals involved in the Paris Olympics?including athletes, coaches, media personnel, and volunteers?has become more meticulous. In particular, near the Seine River, where many historical and cultural sites are concentrated and the risk of terrorism is especially high, both residents and visitors must present security codes proving their authorization to enter the area.