France investigating death threats to Israeli Olympians

PARIS -- French police have opened an investigation into death threats received by three Israeli athletes at the Olympic Games, the Paris prosecutors office said Sunday.

Anti-cybercrime officers also are investigating the release of athletes' personal data on social networks on Friday and seeking to have it removed, prosecutors said in a statement.

In a statement Thursday, Israel's National Cyber Directorate said that after an investigation it had come to the conclusion that Iranian hackers were creating social media channels to publish personal information about members of the Israeli delegation and send them threatening messages.

On the same day, Israel's foreign minister warned his French counterpart of a potential Iranian-backed plot to target Israeli athletes and tourists during the Paris Olympic Games.

The Iranian mission to the United Nations said in a statement on Thursday: "Terrorist acts have no place in the principles of resistance groups; lies and deceit cannot switch the roles of the plaintiff and the accused."

Israeli athletes at the Games are being escorted to and from events by elite tactical units and given 24-hour protection throughout the Olympics, officials said. Israel's internal security service, Shin Bet, is helping with security.

Israel has 88 athletes in Paris.

"Total support for the measures that are being taken by the French authorities," an Israeli diplomatic source said. "This sends an important message to individuals and organizations attempting to threaten athletes," the source added.

--Reuters, Special to Field Level Media