Teenager arrested for Paris 2024 Olympics terror plot. What do we know?

As cliche as the term “sport and politics do not mix” may sound, it is unfortunately no less true and sadly, when they do the results are never pleasant and that’s long before we get to the idea of terrorism. Indeed, major sporting events have become an unwilling platform for the more radical element of some societies and according to recent reports, the 2024 Olympics in Paris are no exception.

Teenager arrested on suspicion of Paris 2024 terror plot

“To die and become a martyr”, were the words reportedly used by a teenager who was arrested on suspicion of planning a terror attack on this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris, France according to officials on Friday. As per reports, the French Government indicated that this counts as the first terrorist plot against the Olympics in Paris that has been averted, with the General Directorate of Internal Security being responsible for detaining an 18-year-old Chechan national.

Where details are concerned, the suspect was said to be targeting the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in St Etienne, the location that will play host to football matches at the Olympics. He was arrested at his home and placed in pre-trial detention. Gérald Darmanin, the Minister of the Interior, was quick to “congratulate the intelligence services which once again demonstrate their full mobilization and their effectiveness in the fight against terrorism and the protection of our country.” Darmanin went further, stating that “the first foiled attack against the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 50th attack foiled by our intelligence services since 2017.”

According to BFMTV, the man denied conducting any reconnaissance or planning an attack while in police custody. He simply acknowledged “exchanges” and “conversations” on encrypted messaging applications. During a search carried out by the police, investigators found a photo of Saint-Étienne stadium on a computer. According to police sources, videos of the stadium were also found on his phone. According to BFMTV, the suspect was unknown to the police and judicial authorities prior to his arrest and had arrived in France with his parents in 2023.

What else do we know?

According to sources, the teenage suspect was arrested at his home, having already scouted various locations. France’s anti-terror prosecutor’s office, PNAT, stated that he was in fact indicted on May 26th on charges of associating with a terrorist criminal group to prepare crimes against a person. As a result, he was remanded in custody. At this point, investigations are ongoing. As for the location itself, the stadium in Saint Etienne was scheduled to host games between host nation France and Canada, the United States and Guinea, as well as two games played by Morocco against Argentina and Ukraine respectively, and finally, another game featuring Canada who faces New Zealand along with Germany who play Zambia.

Now, where context is concerned, this most recent development follows on from last month’s admission that the Olympic opening ceremony could be moved from Paris’ River Seine due to security concerns. Do recall that the Olympics are due to start in two months. To that end, the idea of 10,000 athletes sailing along a 6km route on 160 floats with more than 300,000 people watching is a security nightmare, to say the least. On the other hand, French President Emmanuel Macron previously indicated that there are “plan Bs and plan Cs”, including staging the event in the Trocadero which is across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower or even going the traditional route of holding the ceremony in a stadium i.e., the Stade de France.

Whatever happens, what we do know is that the event will require the efforts of some 45,000 police and security personnel, which if you’re wondering, is 10 times the normal quantity that patrol the French capital. It’s understood that access to the ‘secure zone’ along the Seine will only be granted by invitation. “If we have a risk and elicitation doubt we will not do it,” said Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet. “So far we continue. There is a good level of confidence with the security measures in place. We started this project at the beginning of 2016 just after the massive attacks we had in France. At that time, the authorities decided to defend what is important in France. Paris and the public authorities have put in place unprecedented security. The security is the priority and then, after the security is secured, we work on the artistic.”