A bomb alert has been issued in Paris after police discovered a suspicious object near an Olympic venue, triggering a lockdown in the area.
The incident occurred near the Porte de Paris train station in Saint-Denis, close to the Stade de France stadium, which is hosting several Olympic events. French authorities have cordoned off the area and are awaiting the arrival of a specialist bomb squad to assess the situation.
The train station, a key transportation hub near the stadium, has been shut down as a precaution. The stadium was reportedly empty when the alert was raised, as the first session of Olympic events for the day had concluded around 1 p.m. The second session, scheduled to begin at 5:40 p.m., is expected to draw hundreds of sports fans back to the venue, but it remains unclear whether the station will be reopened in time for the evening events.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin addressed the incident, stating that while there have been no tangible terror threats detected during the first week of the Paris Olympics, security remains a top priority. Since the games began on July 26, around 200 individuals have been arrested for various crimes, including those who were suspected of planning attacks.
Darmanin emphasized that there is no known organized attack being planned, and overall, crime in Paris has seen a reduction, likely due to the heightened security presence. This security operation includes a massive deployment of 45,000 police officers, 18,000 soldiers, and several aerial units such as fighter jets and surveillance drones. Additionally, 1,700 members of the British police force are assisting in Paris and Marseille.
The incident underscores the high level of vigilance surrounding the Paris Olympics, as France takes extraordinary measures to ensure the safety of participants and spectators.
