Shocking moment sick Nazi salutes are aimed at Israeli footballers at Olympics as police probe death threats
OLYMPIC organisers have asked French cops to investigate a group of football fans appearing to aim Nazi salutes at Israeli players.
Shock pictures show a mob in the stands brandishing a banner that reads “Genocide Olympics” alongside Palestinian flags, while some raise their hands in the style of the Hitler salute.
Football fans were seen tormenting Israeli players at the country’s clash with Paraguay
Authorities are now investigating ‘anti-Semitic’ gestures made at the match
Israeli were fans were heard chanting back ‘free the hostages’
It occurred during the Israel-Paraguay game at the Parc des Princes on Saturday.
Police are already probing death threats directed at three Israeli athletes in a separate investigation.
Speaking on the scenes out of the football stadium, a Paris Olympics spokesperson told Sky News: “During the men’s football match between Israel and Paraguay at the Parc des Princes on 27 July, a banner bearing a political message was displayed and anti-Semitic gestures were made.”
“Paris 2024 strongly condemns these acts. A complaint has been lodged by Paris 2024, which is at the disposal of the authorities to assist with the investigation.”
Fans who displayed the banner were ejected by stewards before Paraguay won the Group D game 4-2.
Authorities have tightened protection of Israeli athletes as tensions boil over the ongoing Gaza conflict.
They are being escorted to and from their events by elite units and are being given 24-hour security.
Israel’s own security service – Shin Bet – is also ensuring tight protection.
According to an AFP, about 50 fans clad in black came to the stadium on Saturday, singing chants in French about the Gaza war.
The chants reportedly included lines like “Israel killer” and “Israel is killing Palestine’s children”.
The Israeli anthem was also booed by sections of spectators.
Some Israeli fans were heard chanting back “free the hostages”, referring to those still in Hamas captivity.
A statement from the Paris prosecutors’ office indicated the fans targeting the Israeli team could be slapped with racial hatred charges.
The prosecutors’ office on Sunday said it was also probing the alleged death threats delivered to the trio of Israeli athletes.
Meanwhile, anti cyber-crime officers have been tasked with investigating the release of Israeli competitors’ data on social media.
Pictures, home addresses and data on those who served in the Israeli army were made public, along with usernames and passwords to online accounts.
They are also trying to get it removed.
Israel’s National Cyber Directorate on Thursday claimed Iranian hackers were behind the data leak.
The Iranian mission to the UN responded with a statement that said: “Terrorist acts have no place in the principles of resistance groups; lies and deceit cannot switch the roles of the plaintiff and the accused.”
Strong security measures are being taken to protect Israeli athletes
Athletes are being protected by 24/7 security amid fears of an attack with tensions mounting over the Gaza war
