An 18-year-old man was arrested and taken into custody in Gironde on Tuesday morning. He had spoken of his intention to commit the crime during the Olympic Games.
While the President of the Republic will speak this Tuesday on the Journal de France 2 at 8:10 p.m. for the first time since the second round of the legislative elections and three days before the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, an 18-year-old man was arrested in Gironde this Tuesday morning by police officers from the General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI) and placed in police custody for up to 96 hours. According to information from Le Parisien, he was placed in police custody for “criminal terrorist association” as part of an investigation opened by the national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office.
Spottedby the DGSI through its messages on social networks
This Tuesday evening, Emmanuel Macron will undoubtedly address the sporting aspect of the Paris Olympics as well as its organization. At the same time, the terrorist threat looms over the event. The individual arrested this Tuesday in the Gironde department was spotted after having mentioned his desire to take action on the web, particularly during the Olympic Games. “Described as radicalized” as Le Parisien tells us, he notably mentioned the desire to commit a violent action in messages on his secure social networks.The investigation must first determine the nature, veracity and degree of completion of the latter’s project.
While it is not yet possible to confirm that the DGSI has indeed foiled a plan for violent action with the arrest of this 18-year-old man in Gironde, the anti-terrorist services have formally foiled two so far. One in Paris, and a second in Saint-Etienne near the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium. In addition, this Tuesday’s arrest confirms a trend seen in recent times: the rejuvenation of suspects arrested in terrorism proceedings. These minors or young adults with more malleable profiles for terrorist organizations constitute a forced strike route for the latter, particularly in the run-up to an event like the Paris Olympics. In total, since the beginning of the year, 14 minors have been indicted, indicated Olivier Christen, national anti-terrorism prosecutor on France Inter on July 16. This is almost as many as in the whole of 2023, with 15 arrests.