Anti-terrorism police in France have detained a 16-year-old boy following a statement on social media expressing his desire to "die a martyr" at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris this summer.
On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the police stated that the boy was apprehended after he "publicly declared on social media his intention to fabricate an explosive belt with the aim of becoming a martyr." According to BFMTV, the teenager was apprehended at his parents' residence on Tuesday following the purported posts on Telegram the previous day.
The French outlet also stated that during a search of the teenager's residence in Haute-Savoie, southeastern France, handwritten documents were discovered in which he expressed support for the Islamic State. The spokesperson mentioned that an investigation was ongoing to determine if he genuinely intended to carry out a terrorist act. This development follows French President Emmanuel Macron's acknowledgment that the Olympics' opening ceremony might be downsized if the security risk is assessed as too significant. Against the backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, France previously elevated its security alert to its highest level.