Man arrested after Paris Olympics security plans stolen from train

A man has been jailed for seven months for stealing a bag containing Olympics notes from an employee of the Paris city hall, a judicial source confirmed on 2 March. The bag containing a computer and two USB memory sticks was stolen from a train at the capital’s Gare du Nord station.

Passengers disembark from a train at Gare du Nord train station in Paris, on 15 February, 2024. AFP - IAN LANGSDON

Update 2 March 2024: 

The Paris prosecutors' office said the USB key "contained only notes about road transport in Paris during the Olympics, and not sensitive security information" as previously feared.

The suspect was "already known" to police for thefts on public transport, particularly at the beginning of January, the judicial source said.

In addition to the theft as a repeat offender, the defendant was also on trial for refusing to hand over his telephone code to authorities.

The city employee is set to be investigated to see if he broke any internal security rules by travelling with the USB key, a statement from Paris city hall said.

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The bag belonged to an engineer from Paris's town hall, a police said on Tuesday 27 February – confirming a report by BFM television. 

The man, 56, had put the bag in the luggage compartment above his seat when he was travelling on Monday about 7.30pm.

Because his train was delayed, he decided to change trains at which point he discovered the theft.

An investigation is being conducted by the regional transport police.

Paris authorities could not immediately comment when contacted by the French press agency, AFP.

Major police operation

Exceptional security measures will be put in place during the Paris Olympics – including the use of intelligent, algorithmic video surveillance.

Two thousand municipal police officers will be deployed, with a total of around 35,000 security forces expected to be on duty each day for the Games.

• France to beef up Olympic security with deployment of 10,000 soldiers
• 'Not like usual': Paris set for major Olympic restrictions

Meanwhile Paris's military governor this month announced that a temporary camp of 10,000 military staff would be deployed in the Bois de Vincennes, in eastern Paris.

Residents have been told to expect to certain zones access via QR codes as well as other major security restrictions.

The government has urged Parisians to avoid ordering parcel deliveries during the Games, which will run from 26 July to 11 August, followed by the Paralympic Games from 28 August to 8 September.

(with AFP)