This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-europe-17607155
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
France arrests Islamist suspects in fresh raids | France arrests Islamist suspects in fresh raids |
(about 1 hour 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 several locations, mostly in the south. | |
Meanwhile 13 people arrested in raids last week were charged with terrorism and nine of them remanded in custody. | |
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 | 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 raids were organised by the DCRI intelligence agency and carried out by elite Raid and GIPN commandos. |
One police source said: "Those arrested have a similar profile to Mohamed Merah. They are isolated individuals, who are self-radicalised." | One police source said: "Those arrested have a similar profile to Mohamed Merah. They are isolated individuals, who are self-radicalised." |
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, or Knights of Pride, 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. | 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. | 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. |