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France arrests Islamist suspects in fresh raids | France arrests Islamist suspects in fresh raids |
(40 minutes later) | |
Police in France have conducted new raids on Islamist suspects in the wake of the multiple killings by gunman Mohamed Merah. | Police in France have conducted new raids on Islamist suspects in the wake of the multiple killings by gunman Mohamed Merah. |
At least 10 people were arrested as police conducted operations in Marseille, Roubaix, Carpentras and a number of other locations. | At least 10 people were arrested as police conducted operations in Marseille, Roubaix, Carpentras and a number of other locations. |
Thirteen people arrested in raids last week face terrorism charges. | Thirteen people arrested in raids last week face terrorism charges. |
President Nicolas Sarkozy vowed to crack down on suspected radical Islamists after the Merah killings. | President Nicolas Sarkozy vowed to crack down on suspected radical Islamists after the Merah killings. |
Expulsions | |
Most of Wednesday's raids were in the south and south-west, notably in Marseille but also in Carpentras, Valence and Pau, police sources told Agence France-Presse news agency. | Most of Wednesday's raids were in the south and south-west, notably in Marseille but also in Carpentras, Valence and Pau, police sources told Agence France-Presse news agency. |
There was also a raid in Roubaix, close to the Belgian border. | There was also a raid in Roubaix, close to the Belgian border. |
The raids were organised by the DCRI intelligence agency and carried out by elite Raid and GIPN commandos. | |
The operation comes less than a week after raids that targeted men who are believed to be associated with a radical group called Forsane Alizza, which was banned last month. | The operation comes less than a week after raids that targeted men who are believed to be associated with a radical group called Forsane Alizza, which was banned last month. |
Police have been careful not to link the raids to the killings by Merah in Toulouse and Montauban. | Police have been careful not to link the raids to the killings by Merah in Toulouse and Montauban. |
The self-confessed al-Qaeda gunman was shot dead by police in Toulouse, following attacks in which he murdered seven people, including three children. | The self-confessed al-Qaeda gunman was shot dead by police in Toulouse, following attacks in which he murdered seven people, including three children. |
After last week's raids, Mr Sarkozy, who faces a presidential election this month, said the crackdown on radical Islamists "would continue and that will allow us to expel from our national territory a certain number of people who have no reason to be here". | After last week's raids, Mr Sarkozy, who faces a presidential election this month, said the crackdown on radical Islamists "would continue and that will allow us to expel from our national territory a certain number of people who have no reason to be here". |
On Monday, the French interior ministry announced the expulsion of five radical Islamic preachers as part of the crackdown. | On Monday, the French interior ministry announced the expulsion of five radical Islamic preachers as part of the crackdown. |
Security has become a major issue in the election campaign, as Mr Sarkozy battles to overcome his main rival, Francois Hollande. | |
Latest opinion polls suggest the rivals are neck-and-neck in the first round of voting on 22 April, with Mr Sarkozy continuing to close the gap on Mr Hollande in the widely expected run-off vote on 6 May. |