The Swedish bomb dogs Max and Charlie have been helping the French police for two weeks before the opening of the Olympics in Paris.
The days have sometimes been over twelve hours long – in 40 degree heat.
– They think it’s fantastic to work and here they can apply all the time. The dog handlers have to hold them back, says “Erik”, one of four bomb technicians from the Swedish police who work with the dogs.
The days start at 05 in the French capital.
– We are led by French dog handler police who meet us in the morning. And then we drive together to the place to be searched, says Erik, who is inspector and commander of the Swedish group.
Dog handlers and bomb technicians from several countries have helped each other in Paris in the weeks leading up to the inauguration.
30 meters up in the air
The Swedish group has, among other things, searched around the Eiffel Tower, on barges in the Seine, at the horse arena in Versailles and on the light ramps above the Parc Des Princes arena – 30 meters above the pitch.
– It’s a lattice floor that you can see right through, it’s scary for someone else to walk up there, says Erik.
The new environments are stressful for the dogs, he says. Eight-year-old hunting Labrador Charlie and three-year-old Malinois Max have been searching new places – with completely new impressions – every day.
– They have fallen asleep quickly in the evenings.
Didn’t find anything sharp
At the same time, the dogs have loved working in Paris.
– When we search, it is the dogs that are in the center, they get all the attention.
In the two weeks the group has been in Paris, they have not found any sharp objects.
France had specifically asked for help with the work ahead of the championships.
– We have been here to help them get started, so we will wind down here in a few days, says Erik.
Erik’s name is actually something else. He and the other bomb technicians are security classified and are not allowed to release their names or pictures.