France’s renowned anti-terrorism squad has been training intensely for two years in preparation for the country to host the Olympic Games.
The highly skilled GIGN unit, which was formed after the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre, is hoping for peaceful games in Paris starting next week – but are ready if not.
9News reporter Christine Ahern was given exclusive access into its base, where General Ghislain Réty said their biggest security challenge was the opening ceremony along the River Seine.
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“There will be people across the river, there will be people on the roofs and in the boats in case of a terror attack,” he said.
Réty, however, declared the squad is ready for any threat with 400 personnel on duty during the Games.
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“You don’t have to worry, honestly, everything is done to have a big event, very safe event,” he said.
Snipers in helicopters have been training to shoot a target from the moving aircraft and are ready to be deployed anywhere in the city.
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Dogs are also an integral part of counter-terrorism and have been fitted with specialist helmets so the handler can see everything the dog see and can give them commands through a speaker.
The canine unit are used for intelligence to survey building and find threats like explosives – a skill that takes 18 months to build.
All the weapons have been tested to make sure they are good to use.
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