In all, 5 folks, together with a minor, had been arrested on suspicion of involvement within the three foiled plots towards the Summer time Video games.
PARIS, France — French authorities foiled three plots to assault the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris and different cities that hosted the summer season occasions, the nationwide counterterrorism prosecutor mentioned on Wednesday.
Olivier Christen mentioned the plots included plans to assault “ Israeli institutions or representatives of Israel in Paris” throughout the July 26 to Aug. 11 Olympic competitors. The prosecutor advised broadcaster France Data that “the Israeli staff itself was not particularly focused.” He didn’t give additional particulars.
In all, 5 folks, together with a minor, had been arrested on suspicion of involvement within the three foiled plots towards the Summer time Video games, which had been held towards the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war and Russia’s war in Ukraine. The suspects are dealing with numerous terrorism-related expenses whereas they continue to be in pre-trial detention, the prosecutor mentioned.
France was on its highest safety alert within the months forward of the Olympics and Paralympics, which wrapped up final week. Throughout preparations for the Video games, Inside Minister Gerald Darmanin repeatedly warned that safety threats included these from Islamic extremist teams, violent environmental activists, far-right teams and cyberattacks from Russia or different adversaries.
In Could, members of the Basic Directorate of Inner Safety arrested an 18-year-old man from Chechnya on suspicion of being behind a plan to attack Olympic soccer events that had been held within the southern metropolis of Saint-Etienne.
The deliberate assault was to focus on “bar-type institutions across the Geoffroy stadium,” the prosecutor mentioned. The suspect is accused of planning “a violent motion” on behalf of the Islamic State group’s jihadist ideology.
Jihadists threats dominated the foiled plots and 80% of authorized proceedings towards suspects embody the extremist ideology that also influences France’s youth, the prosecutor mentioned. The Islamic State group continues to “unfold propaganda,” he added.
Preventive measures included elevated home searches and home arrests earlier than the beginning of the Olympics, the prosecutor mentioned, including that police and different safety personnel performed 936 home searches to date in 2024, in comparison with 153 final yr.
