An alleged neo-Nazi sympathiser has been arrested in France on suspicions he was preparing attacks during the Paris Olympics that open next week, interior minister Gérald Darmanin said Wednesday.
The background: The 18-year-old far-right extremist was the administrator of a group on Telegram called "French Aryan division" and was detained for questioning about death threats, hate speech and other postings he allegedly shared there.
Newspaper Le Parisien reported the young man had followers who were prepared to mount attacks and had threatened violence against a Paris-based drag queen who took part in the Olympic torch rally last weekend.
The key quote: "We don't have any particular threat on the opening ceremony or the Olympic Games identified, but we are vigilant. As you have seen this morning, in the Alsace region we have arrested a far-right individual who was 'fomenting' — and I say it with quotation marks — a violent attack against the Olympic Games,” interior minister Darmanin said.
What else to know: The alleged neo-Nazi is also being investigated for claims he shared personal information that put people at risk and shared bomb-making instructions with his followers.
What happens next: French security services are on high alert ahead of the Paris games when around 10 million visitors and 10,000 athletes are expected in the French capital.
