France Detains 6 Suspected in Jihadi Network

PARIS — Police detained six suspected extremists in southwest France on Sunday in the second such sweep in five days, part of an effort aimed at snuffing out networks of Muslim radicals sending fighters abroad — stepped up since January attacks in Paris.

According to AP, Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said the six, arrested around Albi and Toulouse, were suspected of helping to finance jihadi networks that recruit youth for fighting in Syria or Iraq. Recruiters and others who help French residents travel to battlefronts also are being targeted.

The arrests came on the demand of anti-terrorism judges investigating a case involving terrorism financing, a ministry statement said.

Eight people were arrested last Tuesday in the Paris and Lyon regions. Five of the eight were handed preliminary charges and four of them jailed, the statement said. It wasn’t immediately clear if those arrests were part of the same investigation.

There was no indication whether there were links between the arrests and the three gunmen behind the Jan. 7-9 attacks in Paris that left 20 dead, including the gunmen.

Police arrested five people on Jan. 27 in the small town southern town of Lunel, the departure point for some 20 people headed to Syria or Iraq. Six Lunel residents have died on the battlefronts.

France has the highest number of citizens among European countries joining the jihad, mainly with the Islamic State group. As of mid-December, about 1,200 French had left for Syria, including about 400 still in the war zone and 200 on their way.

M. Wassouf

 

You might also like
Latest news
A protest in the city of Sweida condemning the Israeli attacks Minister al-Ali  discusses with Syrian doctors  in Germany ways to support the health sector Eid al-Fitr Initiative " a message of hope and love for children and families” The organization of Islamic Cooperation condemns the ongoing Israeli attacks on Syrian territory The health sector in Gaza is suffering a catastrophic situation Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry condemns Israeli attacks on Syria          Turkey holds Israel responsible for threatening regional security First phase of prisoner exchange deal between the government and the SDF completed Repeated Israeli raids on Syria receive wide condemnation Presidential Decree announcing the ministerial formation of the government of the Syrian Arab Republ... United Nations condemns repeated Israeli escalation in Syria Emmanuel Macron:Trump's tariffs are a shock to international trade Will Syria Be Affected by Trump’s Decision of imposing Tariffs Qatar calls for urgent international action to stop repeated Israeli raids on Syria Prisoner exchange between the Internal Security Directorate in Aleppo and the SDF involves 250 priso... Syrian doctors in Germany launch campaign to perform hundreds of surgeries in six Syrian provinces Delegation of Syrian Jews in Washington meet with members of US Congress, call for lifting sanctions... Jordan and Egypt condemn the latest Israeli aggression on Syria Funeral of the martyrs in the Israeli aggression that targeted Nawa city in Daraa Jordan's King stresses need to support Syria's efforts to maintain its security and stability