French authorities have arrested an 18-year-old Chechen man on suspicion of planning to attack spectators and police officers at soccer matches during the Paris Olympics.
Geral Darmanin said in a statement that members of the General Directorate of Internal Security arrested an 18-year-old Chechen man on May 22 on suspicion of being behind a plan to attack football events to be held southwest of Lyon.
The minister added, “The suspect was not known to the intelligence services.”
According to preliminary investigations, the man was preparing an attack targeting the Gauvreau-Guichard stadium in the city of Saint-Etienne, which will host several matches during the summer matches, and wanted to die as a “martyr.”
The statement said that the planned attack would target spectators and police forces.
The suspect reportedly wanted to attack the Olympic events “to die and become a martyr.”
The Olympic Games will be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11.
Football matches will be held in French cities before the final match at the Stade de France in Paris.
Source: CNN.gr
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