France stepping up preventive action against terrorist groups

Nahla Abdelmonem

France is stepping up its preventive action against terrorist groups, in its bid to end the presence of these groups.

On May 26, French authorities detained four people in Strasbourg in eastern France for planning violent attacks.

The detained persons, between the ages of 16 and 18, were members of the Chechen community in France.

Security

The French authorities did not provide enough information about the attacks planned to be carried out by these people.

However, France is increasing its preventive measures and surveillance over the Chechen community.

On April 27, French authorities detained eight members of this community on suspected links with terrorist groups and participation in transferring money to Syria.

An 18-year-old Chechen refugee killed a schoolteacher in October last year, days after the victim showed his students cartoons offending the Islamic religion.

This may explain the reasons behind increased surveillance by French authorities over the Chechen community in France. The authorities are afraid of the presence of extended terrorist networks among youths.

The cell, whose members were detained recently, shows the presence of extended extremist ideology secret links among migrant youths.

This raises questions on the need for going beyond just arresting those involved in planning terrorist attacks or those forming financing networks.

It also invites attention to the need for tightening control on cultural and religious organizations that spread wrong information among youths.