France security services arrest far-right extremist for allegedly plotting Paris Olympics

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced Wednesday that French security forces detained a far-right extremist in eastern France on suspicion of organizing attacks during the Paris Olympics, in a statement made on X (formerly Twitter).

The accused far-right extremist was the administrator of the “French Aryan division” group on the Telegram phone application, where he made threats against the Paris Olympics between July 26 and August 11, Paris prosecutors informed AFP. According to the prosecutor’s office, the suspect is being investigated for allegedly publishing bomb-building instructions and allegedly making hateful posts and death threats. He was being questioned by authorities when he was being held in the eastern Bas-Rhin region, which contains the city of Strasbourg.

A similar incident occurred in May where a Chechen teenager was arrested over speculation of plotting an “Islamist-inspired” attack on an Olympics football game in the southeastern city of Saint-Etienne. The Central Counterterrorism Department of the Prosecution Service, also referred to as the “14th section,” was established by Law 86-1020 of September 9, 1986, as a specialized corps of investigating judges and prosecutors stationed in Paris to handle all terrorist matters. This unit is currently investigating both parties.

Tensions caused by multiple incidents leading up to the Olympics has caused security to be heightened at the upcoming opening ceremonies. Approximately 45,000 police and gendarmes, along with a 10,000-strong military force on patrol around Parisian streets and other locations, are part of the French capital’s security operation for its first Olympic Games in a century. Around the Seine River in Paris, a special anti-terrorism security cordon will be set up starting at 5 am on Thursday and lasting until the opening ceremony.