Preliminary terrorism charges filed against man accused of Olympics attack plan

Gendarmes patrol at Mont Saint-Michel before the Olympic torch relay arrives (Jeremias Gonzalez/AP)

French authorities on Friday raised preliminary terrorism charges against an 18-year-old accused of a plot targeting spectators attending football games at the forthcoming Paris Olympics.

The interior minister said it was the first such thwarted plot targeting the Games, which start in eight weeks, as France is on its highest threat alert level.