Two French youths to be tried for alleged plot targeting Paris 2024 Olympics

Two young men from France's Gironde region are set to face trial for allegedly plotting violent actions during the 2024 Paris Olympics. The accused, both 18 at the time of their arrest in July 2024, are being sent to the Paris Correctional Court. They are charged with association of criminals with the aim of preparing terrorist acts. Prosecutors allege they created a discussion group to plan violent actions aligned with jihadist ideology, actively recruiting members and sharing instructions on how to build explosives. The National Antiterrorist Prosecutor's Office confirmed the suspects admitted to creating the group, though no specific targets had been identified at the time of the investigation. The defense has contested the accusation of jihadist radicalization, suggesting the exchanges outside the group indicated a lack of commitment to the plot. However, the investigating judge deemed the evidence sufficient for trial, citing the sharing of Islamic State group content and contact with individuals adhering to jihadist ideology. Their lawyers declined to comment ahead of the hearing.