By I. Hansana, Jadetimes News
An 18 year old man of Chechen origin was arrested by French police in Saint Etienne, southern France, on 22 May for allegedly planning an Islamist-inspired attack on a football stadium set to be used during this summer's Olympic Games, officials reported.
Interior Minister Gérard Darmanin commended the intelligence services for stopping what he described as the first plot targeting the upcoming Games. France remains on high alert with the Olympics scheduled to start on 26 July.
The suspect, whose name has not been revealed, was reportedly caught after exchanging encrypted messages with known Islamist extremists. Authorities found photos and videos of the Geoffroy Guichard stadium, where several Olympic football matches will take place, on his phone and computer.
Darmanin said that the suspect planned to target both spectators and security personnel at the stadium. The Paris Olympic Organizing Committee praised the authorities' effectiveness and commitment in ensuring the Games' security, expressing their gratitude in a statement to AFP news agency.
To protect the Games, the French government is deploying about 20,000 soldiers and over 40,000 police officers, with additional assistance from around 2,000 troops and police officers from other countries. Security measures include screening one million individuals associated with the event, including athletes, local residents, medical staff, and volunteers.
France has seen several Islamist attacks in recent years, most notably the 2020 incident where teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded in Conflans Sainte Honorine after showing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in class. His killer, Abdoullakh Anzorov, also 18 and of Chechen origin, was later shot dead by police.