19‑year-old in France detained over alleged IS attack plot
The French prosecutor's office has detained a 19-year-old suspect and two of his relatives on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack. According to the newspaper "Le Parisien," the man pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
What do you need to know?
- Arrest of the 19-year-old: The French prosecutor's office detained a young man suspected of planning a terrorist attack.
- Ties to the Islamic State: The detainee reportedly pledged allegiance to the terrorist organization IS.
- Arrest of relatives: Two relatives of the 19-year-old were also detained, one of whom will remain in custody.
According to RTL, the potential targets on the attacker's list included: a youth centre, a restaurant, a nightclub, and Jewish community centres. A search of his home found a martyr's belt, confirming his intentions.
The 19-year-old planned a terrorist attack in France
As identified by "Le Parisien," the man living in Dunkirk pledged allegiance to IS, the Islamist terrorist organization advocating for the establishment of a global caliphate. He has been charged with planning acts of violence and conspiracy of a terrorist nature by the prosecutor.
During the search of the 19-year-old's home, investigators discovered a so-called martyr's belt, a vest filled with explosives. Additionally, the man shared videos of perpetrators of Islamist terrorist attacks in France and content glorifying these acts on social media, which could indicate his radicalization and intentions.
The Francebleu portal reports that the arrest of the three men (the 19-year-old and two of his family members) was made possible by a relative of one of the suspects, who reported his suspicions to the police.
The two detained, including the 19-year-old, remain in custody. The third, accused of failing to report the crime intention, is to remain under court supervision.
