In short:
Channel Nine said two of its Olympic Games staff members were attacked during an attempted robbery in Paris.
It was the second alleged violent attack against an Australian in the past 48 hours. French police are investigating claims a 25-year-old Australian woman was raped by five men in Paris.
What’s next?
Australia’s Olympic athletes have been encouraged not to wear their team uniform if they travel outside the Olympic Village.
Two Australian tech workers for Channel Nine have escaped serious injury after being attacked during an attempted robbery in Paris.
The pair were in the French capital for the Olympics as part of a 200-strong team working for the Australian TV broadcast rights holders.
ABC Sport will be live blogging every day of the Paris Olympics from July 27
Nine newspapers reported that the pair were walking to their accommodation in the municipality of Le Bourget, north-east of Paris, late on Monday afternoon, Paris time, when a group of people attempted to snatch one of their backpacks.
The alleged attack has been reported to police.
Technical workers and photographers can often be targets of theft at events that require large media contingents, due to the gear they carry with them.
At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, a News Corp photographer had his equipment stolen before the thief was found the next day pretending to be a part of the press pack.
The incident on Monday was the second alleged violent attack against an Australian in 48 hours. Police have confirmed they are investigating claims a 25-year-old Australian woman was raped by five men in Paris.
“It is a stark reminder that all Australians travelling overseas, no matter where they are, should be aware of their circumstances and aware of their surroundings and do everything that they can to make sure that they are protected and they have a trusted friend and refer to the Smartraveller website,” Liberal senator Jane Hume said on Sunrise this morning.
“It sounds like the Australian Olympic Team are across the security and safety issues, that they are well briefed, the Olympic team. That is very good news.”
Asked about the alleged assault on the 25-year-old, Team Australia chef de mission Anna Meares said: “Our hearts go out to the woman involved and we hope she’s being cared for and supported in the trauma that she’s experienced”.
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“There’s not a lot of detail and information that’s come through, and what information we’re passing onto our athletes is that the security presence is really, really high in order for them to be able to act as quickly as possible and keep them safe.
“We are encouraging them, if they go out of the village, not to go out on their own, not to wear [the] team uniform, just to wear plain clothes, and we’re just waiting on further information on the actual case itself.”
Security expert Neil Fergus told ABC News earlier in the week that the Paris Olympics faced multifaceted threats and would be a complicated event to keep safe.
“I’m afraid we’re living in difficult times geopolitically,” he said.
“Some pundits have claimed it’s the most challenging time since the 1930s.
“Delivering an Olympic Games in this environment is not easy.”
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