French authorities have arrested two men on suspicion of criminal conspiracy connected to a terrorist plot, as well as possession of explosives, as stated by France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office. According to French media outlets, the main suspect, a 19-year-old from northern France, has links to the Islamic State militant group.
The two men continue to be held in custody, while a third person faces charges for not reporting a terrorist offence and is now under legal supervision, according to prosecutors. All three individuals are adults, but officials did not reveal their specific ages or the extent of their alleged plans.
French broadcaster RTL reports that police found what seemed to be a homemade explosive vest in the main suspect’s home during their search. According to Le Parisien, the 19-year-old reportedly signed a pledge of allegiance to the Islamic State and was said to be plotting an attack in a public area.
His arrest is said to have resulted in the detention of two associates. One of these individuals, who is 21 years old, is thought to have provided the suspect with a fake weapon that was subsequently shared on social media, according to news reports.
Was the French government able to prevent terrorist plots during the Olympics?
French authorities thwarted three plans to target the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics, according to the nation’s counterterrorism prosecutor. Olivier Christen informed the Franceinfo radio network that five individuals have been arrested on charges related to terrorism. These arrests took place against a backdrop of increased security leading up to and during the Games.
A total of 936 house searches have been conducted by authorities so far in 2024, compared to 153 last year. French police arrested an 18-year-old Chechen man for allegedly plotting attacks near the Geoffroy Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne. Though 500 kilometers from Paris, the stadium hosted Olympic soccer matches during the group stage.
Christen mentioned that another supposed scheme aimed at “Israeli institutions or representatives of Israel in Paris.” He clarified that “the Israeli team itself was not specifically targeted,” but did not elaborate on the details of the alleged plot.
A third suspected attack plan involved two individuals from Gironde in southwest France, Christen stated. The Paris Olympics took place against the backdrop of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Christen noted that jihadi threats predominated among the foiled plots. Around 80% of legal proceedings against the suspects reference Islamist ideology, he said.
