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Five arrested in France over female jihadi recruitment Six arrested in France over female jihadi recruitment
(about 3 hours later)
French police have detained four men and a woman suspected of recruiting female jihadis to fight in Syria. French police have arrested six people – including two minors – suspected of recruiting female jihadis to fight in Syria.
The arrests were made on Tuesday and Wednesday in a suburb of the city of Lyon. The arrests were made on Tuesday and Wednesday in a suburb of Lyon. During searches at the addresses raided by police, officers reportedly found various weapons including Kalashnikovs, and other equipment said to be gas masks, flashlights and ammunition.
During searches at the addresses police raided, officers reportedly found various weapons and "other equipment". No details were given. Police said among those arrested at Meyzieu and Vaulx-en-Velin, on the outskirts of the city, two were minors, including a 13-year-old girl. Two others were a brother and sister suspected of being what officers described as "sergeant recruiters". One of the arrested suspects is linked to the Islamist group Forsane Alizza, or Knights of Pride, which has called for France to become an Islamic caliphate, which was banned in 2012.
The French interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, congratulated police on the operation and said the five arrested were "suspected of having played a very active role in the recruitment and departure of several young women to Syria in recent months". The French interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, congratulated police on the operation and said the arrested suspects were believed to have "played a very active role in the recruitment and departure of several young women to Syria in recent months".
He reiterated the government's determination to carry on "a relentless fight against the jihadist networks". The French authorities are concerned about the growing number of French women and girls seeking to join Islamic State (Isis). Of the estimated 350 French nationals believed to be currently engaged with the Islamist group in Syria, at least 63 are believed to be female and six are minors.
Officers working for the French intelligence services carried out the arrests as part of an anti-terrorist inquiry. Caseneuve reiterated the government's determination to carry on "a relentless fight against the jihadist networks".
Local sources said that two of the arrested were a brother and sister. Another is linked the Islamist group Forsane Alizza, or Knights of Pride, which has called for France to become an Islamic caliphate, and was banned in 2012. He says around 930 French citizens, or foreign nationals living in France, are involved in the Islamic fundamentalist network. Several hundred are believed to be in Syria already, while hundreds more are thought to be either on their way to join Isis, preparing to go, or back in France having already been.
Cazeneuve says around 930 French citizens, or foreign nationals living in France, are involved in the Islamic fundamentalist network. Several hundred are believed to be in Syria already, while hundreds more are thought to be either on their way to join Islamic State (Isis), preparing to go, or back in France having already been.
The number is the highest in any European country.The number is the highest in any European country.
There are fears they may carry out terrorist attacks in their home countries or in Europe when they return. Frenchman Mehdi Nemmouche, who has been charged with killing four people in an attack on the Jewish Museum in Brussels in May, is believed to have fought with Isis in Syria.There are fears they may carry out terrorist attacks in their home countries or in Europe when they return. Frenchman Mehdi Nemmouche, who has been charged with killing four people in an attack on the Jewish Museum in Brussels in May, is believed to have fought with Isis in Syria.
On Tuesday, the Assemblée Nationale approved legislation aimed at preventing would-be jihadis leaving France. MPs voted for courts to be given powers to apply six-month bans, renewable for up to two years, on French nationals travelling abroad to "take part in terrorist activities, war crimes or crimes against humanity or in a theatre of operations of terrorist groups". Courts would have the power to seize suspects' passports and identity cards.On Tuesday, the Assemblée Nationale approved legislation aimed at preventing would-be jihadis leaving France. MPs voted for courts to be given powers to apply six-month bans, renewable for up to two years, on French nationals travelling abroad to "take part in terrorist activities, war crimes or crimes against humanity or in a theatre of operations of terrorist groups". Courts would have the power to seize suspects' passports and identity cards.
At the end of August, French police arrested a teenage girl who they believe was planning to join Islamic extremists fighting in Syria as she prepared to board a plane at Nice airport. Detectives also arrested a man who they described as a recruiter, who had paid the 16-year-old's airfare.At the end of August, French police arrested a teenage girl who they believe was planning to join Islamic extremists fighting in Syria as she prepared to board a plane at Nice airport. Detectives also arrested a man who they described as a recruiter, who had paid the 16-year-old's airfare.
In the same month a 14-year-old French girl was investigated for allegedly planning to travel to Syria to fight, the third in a group of teenage girls caught before they departed.In the same month a 14-year-old French girl was investigated for allegedly planning to travel to Syria to fight, the third in a group of teenage girls caught before they departed.