Bordeaux, France – Authorities in Bordeaux, France, have arrested a man suspected of plotting a violent attack on the Olympic torch relay taking place in the city. The suspect, identified as Alexandre G., 26, was taken into custody after police discovered his connection to a male incel group and feared he may attempt to disrupt the procession.
Police revealed that they had prevented a potential attack on the event that kicked off in the morning and is set to conclude at 7:30 pm local time. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin commended the swift response of law enforcement officials but provided few details about the alleged plot.
Prosecutors stated that Alexandre G. was associated with the online incel movement, which consists mainly of young men facing difficulties in forming romantic relationships. They claimed the suspect had posted troubling messages that could be interpreted as glorifying crime, in addition to mentioning a mass shooting in the US.
As part of a relay throughout French territory, the Olympic torch made its way through Bordeaux on Thursday in preparation for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games scheduled to commence on July 26. The event involved numerous female participants, including athletes.
Law enforcement has launched an extensive security operation to safeguard all individuals involved in the Olympics, with thousands of police officers and gendarmes deployed for the task. Prosecution authorities initiated a judicial investigation into Alexandre G.’s conduct, with the suspect currently detained in a secure police station.
Although Alexandre G. has no prior criminal record, authorities seized a firearm that fires rubber pellets, along with multiple mobile phones and a computer during a search of his residence. The suspect admitted to having considered an unspecified act, raising concerns that he may have been targeting the Olympic Flame relay.
In his alleged communications, Alexandre G. referenced Elliot Rodger, a notorious incel attacker who killed six people in Isla Vista, California, ten years prior. The incident raised alarms due to its similarities to other acts of violence linked to misogynistic motives, such as the case of knifeman Joel Cauchi, who targeted women in a deadly assault at a shopping center in Sydney earlier in the year.