The authorities in Paris detained a Russian on suspicion of planning acts of “destabilization” during the Olympic Games in the French capital, writes the BBC, quoted by BTV.
Local media reported a 40-year-old man was arrested on Sunday. An investigation has been opened against him for “giving information to foreign forces with the aim of organizing hostile actions in France”. The authorities believe that it is not a terrorist attack.
This happens literally hours before the start of the Olympic Games, the official opening of which is this Friday.
Investigators said the man's home in Paris had been searched. A source close to the investigation commented to the French media that evidence was found pointing to “pro-Russian operations”.
Another source commented that the man had organized a “large-scale project that could potentially have serious consequences”.
At this time, there is no further information from authorities about the investigation. Such actions can bring the man a sentence of up to 30 years in prison.
Last week, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said more than 1 million people had been screened, including athletes, coaches, journalists, volunteers, security guards and residents of Paris who live near the Olympic sports facilities.
4,360 individuals refused to be screened, and 800 of them were denied access to the Games due to suspicions of “external interference”.
„ Our job is to make sure that sports events are not used for espionage, cyber attacks or as an occasion for criticism,” commented Darmanin at the time.
There has been an increase in incidents in the French capital in recent months, with experts believing it is a controlled plan to destabilize France. Incidents along the lines of Ukraine and the Gaza Strip are particularly frequent.
In June, five coffins wrapped in the French flag and with the text "French soldiers in Ukraine" were left near the Eiffel Tower. Three men were later arrested in the case – one of them Bulgarian. They admitted that they were paid to leave the coffins.
According to the French investigators, it is an order from Russia.
A month earlier, red hands were painted on the Holocaust Memorial in Paris. The perpetrators are believed to have fled abroad.
These are just some of the incidents that Paris has to deal with before the start of the Olympic Games. The sporting event will be guarded by over 75,000 uniformed personnel.