France’s national counterterrorism prosecutor has said French authorities foiled three plots to attack the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris and other cities that hosted the summer events.
On Wednesday, prosecutor Olivier Christen said the plots included plans to attack “Israeli institutions or representatives of Israel in Paris” during the Olympic Games.
The prosecutor told broadcaster FranceInfo that “the Israeli team itself was not specifically targeted,” but he did not give any further details.
In all, five people – including a minor – were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the three foiled plots against the Summer Games, which were held against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Influence of Islamic State
In May, members of France’s DGSI General Directorate of Internal Security arrested an 18-year-old man from Chechnya on suspicion of being behind a plan to attack Olympic soccer events that were held in the southern city of Saint-Etienne.
The planned attack was to target “bar-type establishments around the Geoffroy stadium,” the prosecutor said.
The suspect is accused of planning “a violent action” on behalf of the Islamic State armed group’s jihadist ideology.
According to the prosecutor, jihadist threats dominated the foiled plots and 80 percent of legal proceedings against suspects include the extremist ideology that still influences France’s youth.
The Islamic State group continues to “spread propaganda,” he added.
Preventive measures included increased house searches and house arrests before the start of the Olympics, with police and other security personnel having conducted 936 house searches to date in 2024, compared to 153 last year.
