A bomb alert has been issued in Paris after police found a “suspicious object” in an area near an Olympic venue.
The area around Porte de Paris train station in Saint-Denis has been cordoned off as police await the arrival of a specialist bomb squad. Image reports.
The station, located near the Stade de France stadium, where the Olympic Games have been taking place since yesterday, has also been closed in the face of the threat.
The stadium was reportedly empty when the bomb alert was issued this afternoon, after the first Olympic session of the day ended at 1:00 p.m.
The second afternoon session is scheduled to begin at 17:40, with hundreds of sports fans heading back to the stadium.
But it is unclear whether the affected train station will be reopened by then.
General view of the Porte de Paris train station in Saint-Denis, where police found a “suspicious object”
The Porte de Paris train station in Saint-Denis, located near the Stade de France stadium (pictured), has been cordoned off as police await the arrival of a specialist bomb squad.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said authorities had not detected any “tangible” terrorist threat during the first week of the Olympics.
In the same week, around 200 people were arrested by security forces for various crimes.
Mr Darmanin published the first official statistics on security at the Paris Olympics during a visit to a police station in Saint-Denis.
He said that since July 26, about 200 people have been arrested, including 180 taken into police custody.
Among them are some “individuals” who “could have” committed attacks, including on the day of the opening ceremony, Darmanin said.
However, he added, “there has not been and we are not aware of any tangible threat from (terrorist) organizations… We are not aware of any organized attack being planned.”
Mr Darmanin also highlighted that there were 24 per cent fewer robberies associated with violence, as well as 10 per cent fewer car thefts in Paris and neighbouring suburban areas.
“Overall, petty crime has been greatly reduced, probably due to the large presence of police and gendarmes in public areas,” he said.
Mr Darmanin will remain in the Interior Ministry as an interim official until a new government is formed following legislative elections earlier this month.
The bomb threat comes after a massive force of some 45,000 police officers from 43 countries, as well as 18,000 soldiers, were drafted in to form France’s massive defence system.
But alongside human efforts, the “unprecedented” operation also involves several air units, including Rafale fighter jets, AWACS surveillance flights, Reaper surveillance drones and helicopters with expert snipers on board.
Some 1,700 British police officers are supporting French officers in Paris and Marseille, as well as sniffer dogs from the UK hand-picked by French authorities.
This is a breaking news story. More to come soon.