Amy Mek
Just days before Christmas, a significant anti-terrorist operation in France led to the arrest of five individuals, averting a potential Islamic terror attack. Conducted by the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) across Meurthe-et-Moselle, this timely intervention showcases the ongoing efforts of French authorities to ensure public safety during a season of heightened alert. Amidst rising global tensions, and with Christmas just days away, this operation stands as a critical juncture in the ongoing fight against Islamic terrorism.
The arrests targeted individuals belonging to an ‘Islamic movement,’ with simultaneous raids carried out in Nancy, Toul, and Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy. These are part of a preliminary investigation focused on ‘criminal terrorist conspiracy aimed at planning one or more crimes against individuals.’
The operation was a coordinated effort involving specialized anti-terrorism units, including the Anti-Terrorist Sub-Directorate (SDAT) and the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI). Their Operational Support Group (GAO) played a crucial role in the apprehension and transfer of suspects identified as having terrorist profiles.
Notably, just before 1 p.m., three intervention vans were spotted at the Nancy train station, likely arranged to transport some or all detainees to the SDAT headquarters in Levallois-Perret.
Among the five individuals arrested was a third-year college student residing at the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris. The BRI (Brigade de Recherche et d’Intervention) apprehended the student in a well-coordinated operation that involved securing a building on a major university campus where the individual was residing. The arrest notably occurred early in the morning, with the student being taken directly from their bed.
The Context of the Operation and Its Implications
These arrests occurred following an alert from the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin. On Friday, he instructed the prefects to remain highly vigilant during the Christmas and Epiphany celebrations. This directive is in response to the ongoing and very high level of Islamic terrorist threats.
Amid a tense international geopolitical climate and mere days before Christmas, the operation’s timing raises questions. Was this accelerated response triggered by the collected intelligence indicating a potential imminent attack, or was it a precautionary measure against individuals already under surveillance? The ongoing custody of the suspects is expected to facilitate detailed investigations, encompassing both the evidence collected during home searches and the backgrounds of the arrested individuals.
Speculation arises as to whether an attack on a Christmas market in the region was a possibility, a concern that remains unconfirmed. When approached for comment, the Nancy prosecutor’s office deferred to the PNAT, citing their national jurisdiction over terrorism matters.
Historical Context and Security Measures
This operation echoes the memory of the December 11, 2018, Strasbourg Christmas Market attack, which resulted in five fatalities and 11 injuries. The perpetrator, a 29-year-old Muslim marked for Islamic radicalization, was categorized as ‘S’ in France’s security database, indicating a potential threat to state security. Police neutralized him after a two-day manhunt. A trial related to the Islamic terror incident is scheduled in Paris for February 29.
In the context of Meurthe-et-Moselle, as of last October, the prefecture had identified 55 individuals as suspected of threatening state security (S) and registered in the File for the Processing of Signals for the Prevention of Terrorist Radicalization (FSPRT). According to the prefect, over half of these individuals are currently incarcerated.
Since October 13, the highest level of the Vigipirate plan, the ‘attack alert’ level in France, has been activated following the jihad murder of Dominique Bernard, a teacher at a high school in Arras, who a former Muslim student stabbed.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
When will these morons realize or acknowledge that “radical” is synonymous with “DEVOUT” Muslim?
Every year lefties and their pet heathens ruin the holydays. Same crap different flies. Keep your eyes out, since the islamos are always plotting and scheming new capers and fresh terrorism.