A man has been arrested in southern France over plans to attack a football stadium used during this summer’s Olympics, officials said.
The 18-year-old Chechen man was arrested in Saint-Etienne on May 22 after authorities found evidence of an Islamist attack, officials said.
Interior Minister Gérard Darmanin praised the intelligence services for foiling the first plot against the Olympics.
France is on high alert ahead of the Olympics, which opens on July 26.
Authorities have not yet released the name of the man arrested last week.
He was arrested after exchanging encrypted messages with known Islamists, French media reported. Photos and videos of the stadium were also allegedly found on his phone and computer.
Darmanin said the suspects wanted to attack spectators and security forces at the Estadio Geoffroy-Guichard, the city’s main stadium, where several football matches will be held.
He added that he was “inspired by Islamist” ideology.
The Paris Olympic organizing committee praised the “efficiency” of French authorities.
“We commend the efficiency of the service and its excellent mobilization to ensure the safety of the Games,” the committee said in a statement to AFP.
The French government deployed about 20,000 soldiers and more than 40,000 police officers to provide security for the Olympics. It will also be supported by about 2,000 soldiers and police from other countries.
Security services have screened one million people involved in the Olympics, including athletes, residents living near Olympic venues, medical staff and volunteers.
There have been a number of Islamic attacks in France in recent years.
In 2020, secondary school teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded outside the school where he taught in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine after showing caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in class.
The murderer was 18-year-old Chechen Abdoullakh Anzorov, who was shot dead on the spot by the police.
