Paris 2024 Olympics: France thwarts plot to attack competition venue in St Etienne

Initial investigation results show that this subject was urgently planning to attack the Geoffroy Guichard Stadium when football matches will take place here within the framework of the Olympics.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced on May 31 that the country's security forces had arrested an 18-year-old Chechen man suspected of planning an attack on the Geoffroy Guichard football stadium in Saint-Etienne during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Sân vận động Geoffroy Guichard. — Geoffroy Guichard Stadium.

Minister Darmanin stated: “Initial investigation results show that this subject was urgently planning to attack the Geoffroy Guichard Stadium (Saint-Etienne) when football matches will take place here within the framework of the Olympics.”

He also said the suspect was influenced by Islamic ideology and wanted to "attack the audience, as well as security forces, and die as a martyr."

A statement from the French Interior Ministry said this was the first time the country's authorities had prevented an attack planned in connection with the 2024 Summer Olympics, which will take place from July 26 to August 11.

France is currently on its highest security alert, with much of the concern focused on the opening ceremony, which is scheduled to take place on a 6km stretch of the Seine.

If carried out as planned, this will be the first time the Summer Olympics will not open inside the closed confines of a stadium as usual.

However, controlling security for such a large area in the capital Paris is considered a big challenge.

The traditional Olympic torch relay is underway in France, on a 12,000km journey surrounded by a “security bubble” of 100 officers, including anti-drone experts and counter-terrorism police.

A total of 78 people were arrested this week alone for trying to disrupt the torch relay, according to French Interior Ministry figures.

Authorities have also intercepted 30 suspicious drones in the past three weeks.

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