Plot to Attack Olympic Football Stadium Thwarted
The Ministry of the Interior announced on Friday that a man who was planning an attack on the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne during the Olympic football tournament has been arrested. The suspect has been charged and detained.
A Chechen national was apprehended on May 22 in Saint-Etienne by the General Directorate for Internal Security, the Ministry of the Interior revealed on Friday. The 18-year-old man was plotting an attack targeting the Olympic Games, with the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne, which will host six football matches, in his sights. According to the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office, the young Chechen has been charged and detained. “He is accused of having, in the name of the jihadist ideology of the Islamic State group, considered carrying out a violent action, notably targeting gatherings of supporters on the sidelines of sports events to be held in Saint-Etienne during the Olympics,” the same source added.
The suspect wanted to “die as a martyr.” At a press briefing in Tourcoing, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin provided additional details. “Having seen that the stadium was too secure,” he “wanted to target spectators outside, near the refreshment stands, near the cafes,” he explained. He then “wanted to ‘die as a martyr,’ those are his words, after a confrontation with law enforcement,” Darmanin added. The young man was “not known to intelligence services, not known to the police,” the minister also said. “There was nothing to suggest that he was radicalized,” he continued, adding that he intended to act with “fairly makeshift means.”
The suspect’s brother was also arrested. His minor brother was also apprehended, Darmanin clarified, but his “responsibility was ruled out.” “There are no other imminent arrests in this case,” the minister added, stating that “this is not an organization.”
What Were the Suspect’s Plans for the Attack?
The suspect, an 18-year-old Chechen national, was aiming to carry out an attack during the Olympic football tournament at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne. He wanted to target spectators outside the stadium, near the refreshment stands and cafes, as he believed the stadium itself was too secure. His intention was to engage in a confrontation with law enforcement and “die as a martyr.”
Were There Any Other Individuals Involved in the Plot?
The suspect’s minor brother was also arrested in connection with the case, but his involvement was later dismissed. The Interior Minister clarified that there are no other immediate arrests expected in relation to this incident, emphasizing that it was not part of a larger organization or scheme.
What Were the Authorities’ Response to the Threat?
The General Directorate for Internal Security, along with the Ministry of the Interior, took swift action to arrest the suspect and prevent the potential attack on the Olympic football stadium. The suspect, who was not previously known to intelligence or law enforcement agencies, was charged and detained, ensuring the safety and security of the upcoming sporting event in Saint-Etienne.