Identified for his radical views expressed on social media, the young man, originally from the Haut-Rhin region, was arrested earlier this week and brought before the courts in Paris on Friday.
The terrorist threat remains high in France. A 19-year-old man was formally charged on Friday in Paris with criminal conspiracy linked to a terrorist enterprise. The suspect, of Italian-Moroccan origin and living near Colmar in the Haut-Rhin department, was arrested earlier this week by investigators from France’s domestic intelligence agency, the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI).
He had come to the attention of authorities several weeks ago due to his activity on social media, where he reportedly pledged allegiance to Daesh. Investigators believe he was planning to carry out an attack and intended to target police officers. “In particular, searches for police station addresses were found on his digital devices,” a source close to the case said. He was taken into police custody in Levallois-Perret, in the Hauts-de-Seine department.
No Criminal Record
During questioning, the suspect denied any intention of carrying out an attack. He has no prior criminal record. “He claims that his online searches were related to a police summons,” the same source added.
After appearing before an investigating judge, he was scheduled to appear later in the evening before a judge responsible for deciding on pretrial detention. Contacted by the media, his lawyer, Pierre-François Feltesse, declined to comment on the case.
