France arrests man who plotted attack on Olympic Games

Security services in France have arrested a man suspected of planning an “Islamic-inspired” attack during the Olympic Games.

The 18-year-old man of Chechen origin is said to have planned to strike in his hometown of Saint-Étienne during one of the football matches at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, the man was “actively preparing” an attack. He had already been to the stadium to explore it and, according to the ministry, wanted to “attack spectators, but also the police, and then die as a martyr”.

According to the ministry, this is the first foiled attack with the Olympic Games as a target. However, a man was arrested in Bordeaux last week for possible involvement in planning a violent action during the journey of the Olympic flame through that city.