French authorities foil terror plot; suspect linked to IS detained
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 had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State.
What do you need to know?
- Arrest of the 19-year-old: A young man suspected of planning a terrorist attack has been detained by the French prosecutor's office.
- Ties to the Islamic State: The detainee reportedly pledged allegiance to the terrorist organisation IS.
- Arrest of relatives: Two relatives of the 19-year-old have also been detained, with one remaining in custody.
According to RTL, potential targets on the attacker's list included: a youth centre, a restaurant, a nightclub, and Jewish community centres. A search of his home revealed 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 organisation 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, he shared videos of perpetrators of Islamist terrorist attacks in France and content glorifying these acts on social media, indicating his radicalisation 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 detainees, including the 19-year-old, remain in custody. The third, accused of failing to report the intended crime, is to remain under court supervision.
