Islamic State Increasingly Targeted and Threatened Western Sporting Events in Advance of the Paris Olympic

Lucas Webber

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Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) and pro-Islamic State (IS) propagandists have ramped up efforts to direct external operations against the West in 2024 (x/@lucasadwebber, February 11). They have exploited sentiments fueled by the Israel–Hamas war since October 7, 2023, and leveraged momentum from the March 22 assault on Crocus City Hall in Moscow (see Eurasia Daily Monitor, March 28). During this period, IS has increased the volume of its propaganda output calling for attacks against Israel, Jews, and the West. However, IS rhetoric has more recently targeted sporting events, especially the Paris Olympics, which ran from July 26 to August 11.

This surge in IS media has coincided with several attacks, foiled plots, and arrests in the West. Consequently, several Western countries have raised terrorism alert levels, and the threat of officially directed IS attacks is increasing (EurActiv, March 20). While a major attack was fortunately avoided at the Olympics and a recent soccer championship, IS may continue to target sporting venues and areas where fans congregate, in an attempt to capitalize on high-density soft targets.