France bans 800 people with «no good intentions» from participating in the Paris Olympics

The list of those banned from participating in the Games this summer includes 15 people considered the most serious threat to national security. Credit: Michel Euler

About 800 people «without good intentions» were excluded from the Paris Olympics for security reasons, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.

The list included 15 people. considered the most serious threat to national security.

“The French people need to know that we absolutely check everyone who approaches the Olympic Games — that's why there are volunteers, torchbearers, people who will greet you. “Mr Darmanin told broadcaster LCI on Sunday.

“There are a million checks to be done; we have already carried out 180,000 inspections. We excluded 800 people, including 15 from the Fiche S [most serious threat dossier],” he said.

“This means that there are people who wanted to register to carry the flame, to volunteer at the Olympic Games and clearly did not have good intentions.”

Mr Darmanin clarified that among those excluded were “radical Islamists » and «radical environmentalists who want to protest.»

The country is on high terror alert.

French security forces are checking up to a million people ahead of the Olympics, including athletes and people living nearby, according to the Interior Ministry. key infrastructure facilities.

Ahead of the July 26 start, all 10,500 athletes selected for the Olympics and 4,400 for the Paralympics will be subject to background checks, as well as their coaches and medical staff, and 26,000 accredited journalists.

The Olympic Games will be held from July 26 to August 11, and the Paralympic Games will be held from August 28 to September 8.

France was placed on high alert for terrorist attacks in October after a suspected Islamist crossed into the country. school in the north of the country and stabbed to death a teacher.

Over the past decade, the country has been under constant attack from Islamic extremists, especially the Islamic State group, while Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip is seen as worsening internal tension.