French authorities have announced the successful disruption of three separate plots aimed at disrupting the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. The national counterterrorism prosecutor, Olivier Christen, revealed that these plots included plans to attack “Israeli institutions or representatives of Israel in Paris” during the July 26 to August 11 Olympic competition. While the prosecutor clarified that the Israeli team itself was not specifically targeted, he declined to provide further details about the nature of the planned attacks.
A total of five individuals, including a minor, have been arrested in connection with these foiled plots. The suspects are currently facing various terrorism-related charges while they remain in pre-trial detention. France had been on its highest security alert in the months leading up to the Olympics and Paralympics, which concluded last week. This heightened security posture was a direct response to a range of potential threats identified by Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, including those emanating from Islamic extremist groups, violent environmental activists, far-right groups, and cyberattacks from Russia or other adversaries.
In May, authorities arrested an 18-year-old man from Chechnya on suspicion of planning an attack on Olympic football events held in the southern city of Saint-Etienne. The planned attack was intended to target “bar-type establishments around the Geoffroy stadium,” according to the prosecutor. The suspect is accused of plotting “a violent action” in line with the jihadist ideology of the Islamic State group.
Jihadist threats have dominated the majority of the foiled plots, accounting for 80% of legal proceedings against suspects. The prosecutor emphasized that the extremist ideology of the Islamic State group continues to exert influence on France’s youth, spreading propaganda and inspiring acts of violence.
To counter these threats, French authorities implemented extensive preventive measures, including increased house searches and house arrests before the start of the Olympics. These efforts have resulted in 936 house searches conducted in 2024, a significant increase compared to the 153 searches conducted last year.
