Paris 2024: Police arrest man planning attack on Olympic Stadium

A man has been arrested in southern France for planning an attack on a football stadium that will be used during the Summer Olympics, officials said.

The 18-year-old of Chechen origin was arrested in Saint-Etienne on May 22 after authorities found evidence of an Islamist-motivated attack, officials say.

Interior Minister Gérard Darmanin praised the secret services for successfully thwarting the first plot against the Games.

France is on high alert ahead of the Olympic Games, which begin on July 26.

The name of the man arrested last week was not released by authorities.

According to French media, he was arrested after exchanging encrypted messages with known Islamists. Photos and videos of the stadium were also reportedly found on his phone and computer.

Mr Darmanin said the suspect wanted to attack spectators and security forces at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium, the city’s main stadium which is scheduled to host several soccer matches.

He added that he was “inspired by Islamist ideology”.

The Paris Organising Committee of the Olympic Games praised the French authorities for their “efficiency”.

“We welcome the efficiency of the services and their exceptional mobilization to ensure the security of the Games,” the committee said in a statement to AFP news agency.

The French government is deploying around 20,000 soldiers and more than 40,000 police officers to ensure security at the Games. It is also supported by around 2,000 soldiers and police officers from other countries.

Security services have screened one million people involved in the Games, including athletes, residents of Olympic venues, medical staff and volunteers.

There have been several Islamist attacks in France in recent years.

In 2020, secondary school teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded outside his school in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine after showing caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad during class.

His murderer, 18-year-old Chechen Abdoullakh Anzorov, was shot dead by police at the scene.