French law enforcement officers have detained an 18-year-old Chechen man who allegedly wanted to commit a terrorist attack during a football tournament as part of the Olympics, according to BFMTV.
An agency citing sources reported that the perpetrator was arrested on May 22. He intended to carry out an attack in the French city of Saint-Étienne during the Olympics.
Journalists specify that the Chechen was planning the attack at the Geoffroy-Guichard football stadium, targeting football spectators and police officers.
BFMTV sources noted that the suspect was arrested at his home. During the search, photos of the stadium in Saint-Étienne were found on his computer, and videos of the same stadium were found on his phone.
The 18-year-old Chechen arrived in France with his parents in 2023. He denies any involvement in the preparation of the attack.
What preceded it
France will host the Olympics. The opening ceremony is scheduled for July 26.
French officials have expressed concerns about the security of the Olympics, especially in light of the recent terrorist attack at a shopping center near Moscow.
France's Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, promised that police, gendarmes, prefects, and intelligence services would be trained to ensure security at the Olympics.