A second 18-year-old man arrested this Thursday as part of an investigation into “terrorist criminal association”

A second 18-year-old individual was arrested on Thursday, July 25, as part of an investigation opened by the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office. He was in contact with another individual who was planning to commit a violent act during the Olympic Games.

A second young man was arrested as part of an investigation opened by the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) “of the charge of terrorist criminal association with a view to preparing one or more crimes against persons”the Pnat told the Radio France Agency on Thursday July 25, confirming information from RTL. This “contact in the life and on social networks of the first person arrested”also aged 18, was arrested on the morning of Thursday 25 July at his holiday destination.

Investigations in progress “relate to one or more possible plans for violent action that these young people may have considered in the name of jihadist ideology”specifies the same source, which is cautious. Investigators are looking “to verify the reality of the projects beyond statements made on the internet and, where appropriate, their degree of completion”.

It was encrypted messaging exchanges that alerted the police of the General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI) and led to the arrest of the first suspect, Tuesday, July 23 in Gironde. In these messages, this 18-year-old young man, considered radicalized, said he wanted to commit a violent action, during the period of the Paris Olympic Games, a source close to the investigation told franceinfo. His police custody could last until this Saturday, July 27.

The Pnat indicated on Thursday July 25 to franceinfo that at this stage, it considers that two plans for attacks targeting the Olympic Games have been foiled. The first targeted the football events in Saint-Étienne. An 18-year-old man of Chechen origin was indicted and placed in pre-trial detention in May. The second consisted of attacking in particular “Jewish targets” during the competition. In this last case, a 19-year-old man and a minor were indicted and placed in pre-trial detention in June.