ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - June 25, 2024

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - June 25, 2024

ZeroFox physical security experts collect, curate, and analyze information derived from open and proprietary sources for comprehensive context of the circumstances surrounding global events. Here is today’s daily roundup of major developments.

Brief Highlights

• Metro Extension in France Connecting Airport and Main Olympic Stadium Opens Before Games Start
• Tensions Rise in New Caledonia as Independence Leaders Transferred to Mainland France
• Putin Warns South Korea Against Supplying Arms to Ukraine

Metro Extension in France Connecting Airport and Main Olympic Stadium Opens Before Games Start

On June 24, President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the extension of Paris Métro Line 14, one of the key pieces of infrastructure for the Olympic Games. The metro extension links Orly Airport, south of the city, with Saint-Denis Pleyel station, which is near the main Olympic stadium (Stade de France). Previously, arrivals to Orly would have to transfer to Paris via a bus or special train network, which would take them to stations for the capital's commuter rail network rather than its vaunted metro. Now, visitors can travel directly via metro from the airport to the city center and onwards to Olympic venues. Meanwhile, U.S authorities have denied issuing a specific travel warning after a widely circulated video purportedly showed the CIA advising Americans against using the Paris Metro during the 2024 Olympics due to terrorism concerns.

Tensions Rise in New Caledonia as Independence Leaders Transferred to Mainland France

After a period of calm, new signs of opposition to the government have arisen in New Caledonia following the arrest of pro-independence leaders and their transfer to holding facilities in far-off mainland France on June 22 and 23, 2024. Seven key individuals were arrested over the weekend in connection with the riots that shook the island during the month of May. Their arrests were not unexpected, but the decision to hold them not in New Caledonia but across the world in mainland France immediately stoked suspicion among their followers. New barricades were erected around Noumea and multiple structures and vehicles were set on fire. There is thus a major risk of new confrontations between pro-independence protesters and the police, despite the near-certainty that the electoral reforms that spurred the original violence will not go through.

Putin Warns South Korea Against Supplying Arms to Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned South Korea against supplying arms to Ukraine. His comments come after South Korea said it was considering supplying weapons to Kyiv in response to Russia and North Korea's new military pact. Following Putin's warning, South Korea's presidential office said it would consider "various options" to supply arms to Ukraine "[depending] on how Russia approaches this issue.” If South Korea follows through on its proposal to supply Ukraine with weapons, Russia is likely to respond to such a move. Possible Russian responses include increased military support to North Korea, naval drills near South Korea, or economic countermeasures.