PARIS (AP) — French authorities on Friday filed preliminary terrorism charges against an 18-year-old for plotting to target soccer fans at the Paris Olympics. The interior minister said it was the first time such a plot against the Olympics has been thwarted. The games, which open in eight weeks and France is on its highest threat alert level, are set to begin on Wednesday.
The national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office said in a statement on Friday that the man was arrested on suspicion of planning “violent acts” in accordance with Islamic State’s jihadist ideology. The man, whose identity has not been released, is being held in custody pending further investigation.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said in a statement that members of the Directorate General of Internal Security arrested an 18-year-old man of Chechnya origin on May 22 on suspicion of being behind a plot to attack a soccer event in the southern city of Saint-Etienne.
Initial investigations suggest that the suspect was preparing to attack the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Étienne, where several football matches will be held during the Summer Olympics. The planned attacks were aimed at spectators and police, according to the statement. The suspect also intended to “die and become a martyr” by attacking Olympic events, the statement said.
France is on high alert ahead of the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, which run from July 26 to August 11 and are expected to attract millions of visitors, with football matches taking place in cities across the country before the final at the Stade de France in Paris.
Darmanin did not mention any specific security threats to the soccer event but said there were several potential threats, including Islamic extremist groups, violent environmental activists, far-right groups and cyber attacks by Russia and other hostile countries.
The Paris Olympic organising committee said it was aware of the arrests and praised intelligence and security services. “Security is a top priority for Paris 2024. We are working daily in close coordination with the Ministry of the Interior and all stakeholders and will remain fully mobilised,” it said in a statement.
France raises terror alert level to highest level after suspected ISIS attack in Moscowhttps://t.co/3GQgcfIk4Z
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The Canadian women’s soccer team is the defending Olympic champion and is scheduled to open its group stage match against New Zealand in Saint-Etienne on July 25. Canada will also face France at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on July 26.
Asked about the plot, Canada coach Bev Priestman said: “It’s concerning but I think the Olympic committee will be stepping in, just like they did with Tokyo. We have faith in creating a safe and secure environment for our athletes.”
Security concerns are particularly high for the unusual opening ceremony, which will see more than 100 world leaders gather in the French capital and see boats carrying athletes in an open-air, 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) procession along the Seine river, with huge crowds watching from the riverbank.
French President Emmanuel Macron said in April that the July 26 opening ceremony could be moved to the country’s national stadium if security threats were deemed too high.
Organizers had initially planned to host up to 600,000 spectators, most of whom would watch for free from the riverside, but safety and logistical concerns led the government to gradually scale back those plans. Earlier this year, the total number of spectators was down to about 300,000.
The French government has also decided not to allow tourists free access to the opening ceremony due to security concerns. Instead, free viewing will be by invitation only.
Extra security was also deployed for the Olympic torch relay, which passed through the rock formations of the Mont Saint-Michel monastery on Friday, which is visited by thousands of tourists every day.
