Ultra-right. Arrests in Brittany in an investigation opened by the anti-terrorism prosecution

Around ten people were arrested this week, particularly in Brittany, as part of an investigation opened by the national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office. Four of them were indicted and then placed in pre-trial detention. According to AFP, it is a young man of 20 years old who received weapons by parcel, a serving soldier or even a former police officer.

Ten people, aged approximately 17 to 60, were arrested at the start of the week, particularly in Brittany and the south of France, as part of an investigation opened by the national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office (Pnat) and entrusted to the General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI), a source close to the investigation told AFP.

Six have been released without prosecution at this stage, according to another source close to the case. But four men presented as being committed to ultra-right ideology were indicted in Paris on Friday evening by an anti-terrorism judge, then placed in pre-trial detention. Among them: a 20-year-old young man who received weapons in a package, a serving soldier, a former police officer.

This search was carried out as part of a judicial investigation opened at the end of September, in particular for criminal terrorist association, by the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (Pnat). The investigations focus “on arms transactions between several individuals adhering to a violent ultra-right ideology, some of whom mentioned plans for violent action against different targets (anti-fascist groups in particular)”Pnat explained to AFP on Saturday.

A judicial investigation is also opened for unauthorized possession and manufacture of explosive devices, unauthorized acquisition of category B and C weapons, acquisition, possession and transfer of category A, B and C weapons, all in relation to a terrorist enterprise.

According to the source close to the investigation, most of those arrested are “gun enthusiasts” And “cradle in an ideological environment that ranges from survivalism to the extreme right“.
Part of what they say is “extremely hostile towards immigrants, Jews“, she said. More than a hundred weapons or ammunition were seized from their homes, according to the same source.

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While in police custody, the defendants claimed that they were obtaining weapons.for purposes of protection, defense“, according to one of the sources close to the investigation.

In July, the head of the DGSI, Nicolas Lerner, warned of “the very worrying resurgence“violent actions by the ultra-right. Ten ultra-right terrorist attack plans have been foiled since 2017, he said.

With AFP