France says it foiled attack targeting Olympic Games at St Etienne

French security forces arrested earlier this month in Saint-Etienne an 18-year-old Chechen suspected of planning an attack at the city’s football stadium during this summer’s Olympic Games, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.

Less than two months before the Paris 2024 Olympics, France is on its highest state of security alert.

“The first elements show he was actively planning an attack against the Geoffroy Guichard stadium (Saint-Etienne) during the football matches that will take place there during the Olympic Games” Darmanin said in a statement.

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The suspect was “inspired by the Islamist” ideology, he said.

“He wanted to attack spectators, but also security forces and die as a martyr,” Darmanin added. This is the first foiling of an attack planned in connection with this Summer Olympics, the statement said.