France: 16-Year-Old Arrested for Planning Terror Attack Against Olympic Games

French police have arrested a 16-year-old male (not further identified) who is charged with planning to carry out a terrorist attack against the upcoming Olympic Games in France, in the name of ISIS.

The below article from yesterday’s Le Figaro is translated by Fousesquawk.

 https://www.lefigaro.fr/faits-divers/un-adolescent-de-16-ans-interpelle-pour-un-projet-d-attentat-pendant-les-jeux-olympiques-20240424

Terrorist attack: 16-year-old adolescent arrested for plan to attack La Defense (arena) during the Olympic games.

By Steve Tenre and Guillaume Poingt

Posted yesterday at 18:55, updated 6 hours ago.

According to our information, the minor said in messages on Telegram that he wanted to obtain material to put together an explosive belt, “in order to die a martyr in the name of the Islamic Caliphate”.

Panic over the Olympic games. A 16-year-old adolescent has been arrested at Marignier (Haute-Savoie), suspected of preparing a jihadist attack during the Olympic games at La Defense (Hauts-de-Seine), Le Figaro learned Wednesday, April 24, according to the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor’s Office, who opened a case for “terrorist criminal association”. He has been placed in custody by police from the General Directorate of Interior Security (DGSI).

The individual was detected after a tip to the local prosecutor’s office concerning troubling remarks posted on the secure messaging channel, Telegram. The minor talked of his wish to procure materials to put together an explosive belt, “for the purpose of dying as a martyr in the name of the Islamic Caliphate,” a police source stated.

Pledge of allegiance to Daesh (ISIS)

The young man was arrested by judicial police at his parents’ residence. During a search, investigators recovered handwritten documents, including a pledge of allegiance to the Islamic State. The cell phone of the suspect was also seized. According to a source close to the case, no explosive belt was recovered by the investigators.

During questioning, the adolescent admitted wanting to commit an attack during the Olympic games, “with a gun or an explosive belt”. According to a police source, the minor, of French nationality,”was already the object of monitoring due to radicalization”. The investigation is assigned to DGSI. 

His term of custody can last up to a maximum of 96 hours, or extended until Saturday morning. “Until then, the investigators are interrogating the minor based on digital data, they have collected from his personal items,” a judicial source indicates, who points out that at this stage, “prudence is necessary”‘ as to this plan to carry out a terrorist act.