Wednesday, September 11, 2024 - French authorities foiled three plots to attack the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris and other cities that hosted the summer events, the national counterterrorism prosecutor said on Wednesday, September 11.
Olivier Christen said the plots included plans to attack
'Israeli institutions or representatives of Israel in Paris' during the July 26
to August 11 Olympic competition.
The prosecutor told broadcaster France Info that 'the Israeli
team itself was not specifically targeted.' He did not give further details.
In all, five people, including a minor, were arrested on
suspicion of involvement in the three foiled plots against the Summer Games,
which were held against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war and Russia's war
in Ukraine.
The suspects are facing various terrorism-related charges
while they remain in pre-trial detention, the prosecutor said.
During preparations for the Games, Interior Minister Gerald
Darmanin repeatedly warned that security threats included those from Islamic
extremist groups, violent environmental activists, far-right groups and
cyberattacks from Russia or other adversaries.
In May, members of the General Directorate of Internal
Security arrested an 18-year-old man from Chechnya on suspicion of being behind
a plan to attack Olympic soccer events that were held in the southern city of
Saint-Etienne.
The planned attack was to target 'bar-type establishments
around the Geoffroy stadium,' the prosecutor said.
The suspect is accused of planning 'a violent action' on
behalf of the Islamic State group's jihadist ideology.
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