France says it has foiled an attack targeting one of the football stadiums being used for this summer’s Olympic Games.

The country’s security forces arrested an 18-year-old from Chechnya earlier this month in the southeastern city of Saint-Etienne, interior minister Gerald Darmanin said.

According to investigators, the man was preparing an attack on the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne.

He planned to target spectators and police forces in order to “die and become a martyr”, the minister’s statement added.

The Paris Olympics will take place between 26 July and 11 August, and will be held under heavy security.

President Emmanuel Macron has said the opening ceremony could be scaled down if the security threat is deemed too high.

There are considerable security concerns around the ceremony, which will bring together 100 leaders and involve athletes sailing down the River Seine with huge crowds on its embankments.

Man arrested for allegedly plotting ‘violent action during torch ceremony for Paris Olympics’

Rafael Nadal set to partner Carlos Alcaraz in men’s doubles at Paris Olympics

Paris Olympics: 16-year-old arrested after he said he wanted to ‘die a martyr’ at Games

Organisers have decided to scale back spectator numbers from 600,000 to 300,000. They have also decided not to give tourists free access to the ceremony as planned.

Read more from Sky News
Knifeman stabs police officer in Germany
Hong Kong democracy activist found guilty
Slovak PM discharged from hospital

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

The Geoffroy-Guichard stadium is one of several venues to be used for the Olympic football tournament.

Originally built in the 1930s, it has been used for major sporting and cultural events, including the 1998 World Cup and concerts, and has undergone several renovations.

Football matches will take place across various French cities before the final at the Stade de France on the outskirts of Paris.

Related posts:

More protests in India following arrest of climate activist EU threatens to block COVID jab exports to UK and other countries with high vaccination rates Footballers told to stop moving sponsors’ drinks at Euro 2020 news conferences Toddler found alone, crying and hundreds of miles from home is reunited with his family Dominican Republic starts work on border wall with Haiti Putin recognises breakaway regions in Ukraine as independent – bringing war a step closer Anoosheh Ashoori says he ‘will not be quiet’ until other dual nationals in Iranian prisons are free Dozens kept in church basement awaiting second coming of Christ freed by police Senior Islamic Jihad commander killed in Israeli airstrike, says Palestine Actor Jonathan Majors arrested on assault charge in New York Shakira faces new investigation over alleged tax fraud in Spain Government will do ‘whatever it takes’ to implement Rwanda deportation plan – minister