Dozens detained in France over plans to disrupt Paris Olympics

PARIS: French authorities have apprehended dozens of individuals accused of plotting to disrupt the upcoming Paris Olympics, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin revealed on Monday, according to the German Press Agency (dpa).

Nearly 50 arrests were made, Darmanin told France 2 television, with the suspects allegedly planning “sabotage actions or radical protests” targeting the initial Olympic events. 

The newspaper Le Parisien reported that 45 members of the radical environmental group Extinction Rebellion were among those detained. Their planned protests aimed to highlight the social and environmental impacts of the Games.

Additionally, Le Figaro reported that an ultra-left-wing activist was arrested on Sunday in Oissel, approximately 121 kilometers northwest of Paris. The suspect was apprehended at a French National Rail (SNCF) facility and was found with “access keys to SNCF technical premises,” “wire cutters,” a “set of universal keys,” and literature related to the ultra-left.

The Paris prosecutor’s office clarified that this arrest is unrelated to the ongoing investigation into the arson attacks that disrupted traffic on Friday, which affected hundreds of thousands of travelers ahead of the Olympics’ opening ceremonies. No arrests have been made in connection with those incidents yet.

Darmanin also indicated that authorities have gained insight into potential suspects behind these deliberate acts of sabotage. “We have identified several profiles of individuals who may be responsible for these highly targeted acts,” he stated. – Bernama, dpa