French authorities have made a major arrest in an alleged plot to carry out a terrorist attack at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.
On Friday, an 18-year-old man was taken into custody and charged with planning “violent action” on behalf of the Islamic State extremist group.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced that members of France’s internal intelligence arrested the teenager from Chechnya, Russia on May 22. He is accused of planning an attack to target spectators and police at soccer matches being held in the city of Saint-Etienne during the Summer Games.
Specifically, investigators believe the suspect intended to attack the Geoffroy-Guichard soccer stadium in Saint-Etienne, one of several venues across France hosting Olympic soccer competitions before the final in Paris. The Interior Minister stated the suspect wanted “to die and become a martyr” in the planned terror attack.
France has implemented its highest level of security ahead of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games, which will be hosted from July 26th to August 11th. Millions of visitors are expected to attend the global sporting event, raising fears of potential Islamic terrorist strikes or other threats.
In addition to concerns over Islamic extremists, French officials have warned of risks from violent environmental activists, far-right groups, and even potential Russian cyberattacks targeting the Games’ operations.
The alleged terror plot represents the first such thwarted terrorist scheme specifically aimed at disrupting the Paris Olympics, according to authorities.
The Olympics organizing committee praised intelligence services for the arrest, stating “Security is the highest priority of Paris 2024.”
Stringent security protocols are being put into place, especially for the Opening Ceremony parade of athletes along the Seine River, which will draw huge crowds including over 100 world leaders. Earlier plans for 600,000 free spectators have been scaled back over safety worries.
As French authorities continue investigating the arrested teen’s suspected links to ISIS, the incident underscores the daunting security challenges of protecting such a large-scale global event in today’s heightened threat environment.