A suspect in plotting a terrorist attack at the Olympics arrested in France.

The Directorate General of Internal Security (DGSI) of the French Ministry of Internal Affairs announced the prevention of a terrorist attack that was to be committed at football matches in Saint-Etienne at the Summer Olympics; a suspect in the crime was arrested, BFMTV channel reported on Friday.

“In this case, we are talking about the first prevented terrorist attack against the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games 2024 and the 50th terrorist attack prevented by our intelligence services since 2017,” said French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.

An 18-year-old suspect has been charged and taken into custody. According to a police source cited by BFMTV, he is a native of Chechnya. He allegedly intended to carry out an “Islamist terrorist attack.”

According to the initial findings of the investigation, the suspect was preparing to carry out a terrorist attack at the Geoffroy Guichard stadium, which was to host several Olympic football matches. The crime under preparation, according to investigators, was to target spectators and representatives of the security forces; the suspect was detained after he surveyed the place where he wanted to commit the attack.

However, according to BFMTV, the detainee denies planning a terrorist attack and reconnaissance of the area. During the search, investigators found a photograph of the stadium on his computer. A police source also told the TV channel that the suspect's phone contained a video from the Geoffroy Guichard stadium.

The TV channel mentions that the security forces did not know of the young man to be involved in any illegal activities before this arrest. He arrived in France with his parents in 2023.

Six football matches of the men's and women's Olympic tournaments are scheduled to take place at the Geoffroy Guichard Stadium from July 24 to 31.