US Intelligence Community actively involved in Olympics security

 

US Intelligence Community Works to Secure Paris Olympics from Terrorist Threats

The US intelligence and diplomatic community is taking proactive measures to secure the upcoming Paris Olympics from potential terrorist threats. According to The Daily Beast, the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has been working on security preparations for two years, providing geospatial reference products to the Olympics planning committee.

The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), a little-known State Department-run group, is also playing a key role in security operations. OSAC will provide a news portal, in-person meetings, security assessments, and daily security reports to companies operating at the Olympics. Additionally, the council has set up a WhatsApp group for the event.

The State Department's Foreign Emergency Support Team (FEST) will work to coordinate the safety of US citizens and visiting VIPs. The Diplomatic Security Service, which is the security lead for the US at the Paris Olympics, is collaborating with French government law enforcement and security organizations.

Other US intelligence agencies, such as the CIA, NSA, and FBI, have provided security support for previous Olympic Games. The FBI has pre-positioned agents abroad to assist in case of a terrorist attack, while the NSA has provided signals intelligence support for threat information sharing.

The preparations come at a time when the threat of terrorism is high. A deadly shooting attack in Moscow earlier this year, claimed by ISIS, has raised concerns. France has increased its security level to its highest level and is conducting military drills to prepare for potential terrorist attacks.

French officials have implied that there is a backup plan in place in case of an attack. The opening ceremony, which will take place on the River Seine, has been scaled back, with the original crowd size of 600,000 halved. Security will be tight, with 45,000 security officers working the event, including on the upper quays and in the air.

The French government is also investigating the backgrounds of volunteers and private security officers, and has reached out to 45 countries for assistance in securing the Olympics. The military has requested specific help for the games.

While terrorist attacks on sporting venues are rare, the threat is still present. France has already foiled several ISIS plots this year, and the government is taking no chances. With the US intelligence community working closely with French authorities, the goal is to ensure a safe and secure Olympics for all participants and spectators.