Two members of an Australian television crew reporting on the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris have been attacked.
Staff from Channel 9 were walking to their accommodation in Le Bourget municipality, northeast of the French capital, when the incident happened on Monday afternoon.
A gang attempted to snatch one of their backpacks. A scuffle followed and the pair were then allegedly assaulted.
But they managed to escape to safety without suffering serious injuries.
‘This is a cause of concern for everyone, not just us here at Channel 9,’ reporter Christine Ahern told 3AW on Wednesday.
‘They were walking back to their accommodation and they were attacked by a group. It was clear it was a robbery because they went for the backpack.
‘There was no weapon used but there was quite a significant assault. The two workers managed to get away but obviously it is a worry.’
She added that the pair were ‘okay’ but ‘obviously shaken up’ by the attack. They have since returned to work ahead of the Opening Ceremony on Friday.
This comes just a day after an Australian tourist was allegedly gang-raped by five men in Paris in the early hours of Sunday morning.
CCTV footage showed the 25-year-old seeking refuge at Dounia Kebab, near the Moulin Rouge on Boulevard de Clichy, after the assault.
Events of such large scale – as the Olympics – provide an opportunity for criminals, leaving tourists and residents vulnerable.
Tensions are high, and Paris is also grappling with multiple terror threats ahead of the Games, and has increased security measures across the capital to prevent any violence.
The British Foreign Office has warned its citizens that terrorists are ‘very likely’ to try to carry out attacks in France.
It says: ‘Terrorism attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by tourists and foreign nationals such as: shopping centres, entertainment establishments and nightlife venues, sporting and cultural events, public transport and national and international transport hubs, places of worship, crowded places and public gatherings.
‘Methods of attack have included knife attacks, shootings, bombings and vehicle attacks.’
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