The trial of 16 members of a far-right group, accused of participating in a terror conspiracy, begins in Paris on Tuesday. The defendants, who allegedly plotted acts of violence against Muslims, deny any terrorist intent.
The defendants – 13 men and 3 women – are suspected of having prepared violent actions against Muslims in France between 2017 and 2018.
They were members of the group Action des Forces Operationnelles (AFO, "action of operational forces") – dismantled in 2018.
According to the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office (Pnat), AFO was a "structured and hierarchical" organisation whose objective was to carry out “concrete acts of violence in symbolic places such as mosques" or by targeting halal food.
The defendants include individuals from diverse backgrounds – a former police officer, antique dealer, teacher, nurse and diplomat. Many have a military background or have mentioned an attraction to the army.
Prosecutors say they united around a common goal – to “combat Muslim influence in France".
The accused, who describe themselves as patriots or resistance fighters, have "widely denied having personally intended to carry out violent actions" the Pnat says.
But prosecutors argue the investigation uncovered “covert plans targeting members of the Muslim community,” driven by an ideology linking jihadist terrorism with Islam more broadly and by fears of the so-called "Great Replacement" theory – according to which white Europeans are being deliberately supplanted by non-white immigrants.
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Firearms uncovered
The alleged projects, some of which were merely declarative, included “Operation Halal,” which aimed to poison halal food in supermarkets with cyanide or rat poison to discredit Muslim dietary practices and throwing grenades into "Arab cars" and "killing 200 radicalised imams". Other ideas included targeting the rapper Medine or preacher Tariq Ramadan, and "exploding a couscous maker from a distance".
During police raids, authorities uncovered firearms, thousands of rounds of ammunition and components for making explosives.
While the acts were initially considered criminal, the charges have since been reclassified as misdemeanours following the Pnat's requisitions.
Pnat told France's AFP news agency that despite the seriousness of the alleged plots, its decision reflects standard policy in cases “where plans for violent action are not fully operational".
All 16 defendants are appearing in court under judicial supervision and remain free during the proceedings.
The trial is expected to run until 27 June.
France has seen an increase in both Islamaphobic and anti-Semitic attacks in recent years, and particularly since the Israel-Hamas conflict triggered by the 7 October, 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel.
Last week, a Frenchman accused of shooting dead his Tunisian neighbour in a village in southern France was formally indicted for murder as an act of terrorism, motivated by the victim’s origins.
(with AFP)
