The attack was to take place during the football events in Saint-Etienne. It was foiled by the Directorate General of Internal Security (DGSI) on May 22.
The football events of the 2024 Olympic Games were targeted by a planned attack, reveals BFMTV on Friday May 31. The DGSI arrested an 18-year-old Chechen man on May 22. He is suspected of wanting to commit an “Islamist-inspired” attack in Saint-Etienne, where the tests in question are taking place. It was precisely the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, its spectators and the police who were targeted.
Photos of the stadium found during a search
The man was at home when he was arrested. He had already carried out reconnaissance and was indicted before being placed in pre-trial detention on May 26. According to the suspect, everything is false, he denies all the facts. On the other hand, he admits to having had “exchanges and conversations” on encrypted messaging services. His home was searched. A photo of the stadium targeted by the attack was found on his computer. Also on his phone were videos of the same location. Arriving in France with his parents in 2023, the man was unknown to the police and the justice system.
“The intelligence services are once again demonstrating their full mobilization and effectiveness in the fight against terrorism and the protection of our country,” welcomed Gérald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior, in a press release. “This is the first foiled attack against the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the 50th attack foiled by our intelligence services since 2017,” he said.
On April 26, a 16-year-old teenager, who wanted to “die as a martyr in the name of the Islamic Caliphate”, was arrested. He wanted to obtain an explosive belt and carry out an attack at La Défense during the Olympic Games. “The minor, who consulted jihadist propaganda, spoke on social networks of his desire to commit violent action,” the DGSI then announced.