French authorities prevent suspected terror plot targeting Louvre museum

A planned terrorist attack targeting one of the world’s most visited museums, the Louvre Museum, was prevented during a routine traffic stop in Paris, France, on May 7, according to information obtained by Le Monde and confirmed by the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT).

The suspect, a 27-year-old undocumented Tunisian national, was taken into custody and later interrogated at the headquarters of the General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI), which is jointly handling the investigation with the anti-terrorism unit of Paris’s criminal brigade.

He was subsequently presented before an anti-terrorism judge on May 11, with prosecutors requesting his preventive detention.

According to authorities, the individual was suspected of preparing an attack influenced by jihadist ideology, with investigators also believing he had considered travelling to join the Islamic State group in either Syria or Mozambique.

Preliminary findings indicate that he had referenced potential targets in Paris, including the Louvre Museum and the Jewish community in the city’s 16th arrondissement, although no final decision on a specific target had been made.

By Jeyhun Aghazada