A 19-year-old French man, alleged to be a neo-Nazi sympathizer, has been sentenced to two years in prison for making threats online. The man was convicted after a swift trial on charges of sharing bomb-making instructions on social media, inciting hate and death threats, as well as posting personal information that put individuals at risk.
The individual, who hails from the Alsace region in eastern France, operated a group named 'French Aryan division' on the social media platform Telegram. While his comments did not specifically target the Paris Olympics, authorities were alerted to his activities by a unit dedicated to combating online hate.
The man was detained at his residence on Wednesday morning, with suspicions raised about his intentions to disrupt the Olympic torch relay. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin revealed that the suspect had been previously flagged for holding ultra-right and neo-Nazi beliefs, with a purported interest in targeting political figures or individuals of immigrant backgrounds.
The ongoing security operation in Paris, in preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games, involves a significant deployment of law enforcement personnel. Up to 45,000 police and gendarmes, along with a 10,000-strong military contingent, are actively patrolling the streets and sites in the Paris region to ensure safety and security.
