Alleged mastermind of Sarcelles attack plot remanded in custody in Paris
A man extradited from Spain has been formally investigated and jailed in Paris over a suspected plot to attack in Sarcelles, sources close to the case said.
A man suspected of sponsoring a planned attack in Sarcelles, north of Paris, was formally investigated and remanded in custody in Paris on 9 October, as part of an anti-terrorism investigation opened in late July, sources close to the case said on Thursday. The suspect, who had been living in Spain, was arrested under a European arrest warrant.
He is not being prosecuted for terrorism offences at this stage, one of the sources said. Only at the end of the investigation will the terrorism track be definitively dropped or retained, another source close to the case said. His lawyers, Louis-Joseph Ricard and Gianni de Georgi, declined to comment.
The investigation began after France's domestic intelligence agency, the DGSI, received information about a possible Islamist attack targeting a synagogue in Sarcelles, the national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office, the Pnat, said in a statement over the summer. A car containing weapons, including a Kalashnikov-type assault rifle, a Beretta pistol and magazines, was found on the evening of 11 July in a busy neighbourhood of the town of 60,000 people.
Officials urged caution about the nature of the suspected plot soon afterwards. Moise Kahloun, president of Sarcelles' Jewish community, said on 12 July there was no element establishing a direct link to the Jewish community, noting that a cinema had been evacuated but not the synagogue.
Six men were indicted in July over the case on charges including organised theft, prosecutors said. Investigations have not yet established that they knew of a terrorist plot; they are suspected of involvement in transporting the car found on 11 July or in supplying or delivering the weapons. Lawyers for two of the men said their clients deny any link to a terrorist act and dispute all the allegations against them.
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What we know
- An alleged sponsor of a suspected Sarcelles attack plot was indicted and remanded in custody in Paris on 9 October.
- He had been living in Spain and was arrested under a European arrest warrant.
- Six other men were indicted in July over related offences, including organised theft, and have not been charged with terrorism offences.
- Investigators found a car with an assault rifle, a pistol and ammunition in Sarcelles on 11 July.
- Prosecutors say it has not yet been established whether the plot was terrorism-related.
Not yet confirmed
- Whether the suspected plot was directly linked to Sarcelles' Jewish community or its synagogue; officials have said no such link has been established.
Why it matters for Europe
Sarcelles has one of France's largest Jewish communities, and the discovery of weapons near a synagogue in July drew national attention to the risk of an antisemitic attack. Three months on, prosecutors are still keeping open the possibility that the case involves a coordinated terrorist plot rather than ordinary criminal offences, as the investigation widens to a suspected financial backer extradited from Spain.
Sources
Reported by 3 reports from 3 independent outlets in 2 countries.
- Le Figaro: Probable projet d'attaque terroriste à Sarcelles : un commanditaire présumé écroué à Paris
- Le Progrès: Val-d'Oise. Soupçons de projet d'attaque à Sarcelles : un commanditaire présumé écroué
- Sud Ouest: Projet d’attaque à Sarcelles : un commanditaire présumé arrêté en Espagne et écroué à Paris
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- Who was arrested in Paris?
- A man suspected of sponsoring a planned attack in Sarcelles, who had been living in Spain, was indicted and jailed in Paris on 9 October.
- What triggered the investigation?
- France's domestic intelligence agency received information about a possible Islamist attack targeting a synagogue in Sarcelles, and a car containing weapons was found on 11 July.
- Have others been charged?
- Six men were indicted in July on charges including organised theft; prosecutors have not yet established that they knew of a terrorist plot.
This article was written with AI assistance from 3 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.