French Anti-Terror Police Detain Neo-Nazi Suspect Targeting Olympic Torch Relay

French anti-terror police have detained a suspected Neo-Nazi sympathiser alleged to have planned an attack on the Olympic torch relay. The man, a resident of the Alsace region, ran a group called 'French Aryan division' on Telegram and is being investigated for death threats, hate speech, and inciting violence. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin confirmed the suspect had been flagged for ultra-right ideas.

French anti-terror police have detained an alleged Neo-Nazi sympathiser suspected of wanting to target the Olympic torch relay, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said Wednesday.

The Paris prosecutor's office stated that the individual was detained at his home in the Alsace region of eastern France. He reportedly ran a group titled 'French Aryan division' on Telegram and was taken into custody for death threats, hate speech, and other controversial posts.

The prosecutor's office clarified that his comments sparking the investigation did not specifically target the Paris Olympics, despite high-security measures planned for the event starting on July 26. However, Darmanin emphasized there was a clear intention to disrupt a stage of the torch relay.

Darmanin, currently serving in a caretaker capacity following recent legislative elections, noted the suspect had been previously flagged for Neo-Nazi and ultra-right ideologies. The investigation also covers allegations of sharing personal information that posed risks to others and disseminating bomb-making instructions.

Security for Paris' first Olympic Games in a century involves 45,000 police and gendarmes, alongside a 10,000-strong military force to patrol streets and secure sites in the Paris region.

(With inputs from agencies.)