France: 5 women suspected of terrorist attack on churches arrested

Five women, one of whom allegedly wanted to commit a “violent act”, were arrested Saturday night in Beziers, in the south. France, as became known from sources close to the investigations and the judicial authorities.

The General Directorate of Homeland Security (DGSI) made these arrests after it came into its possession, suggesting that a violent act was imminent, a source explained.

The Counter-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (Pnat) has launched a preliminary investigation into a “recommendation terrorist gang».

A judicial source told Agence France-Presse that only one of the women was considered a suspect in the violence. The other four are her mother and three sisters and were arrested because they were in the same house with her. At least one in five is a minor.

During the search, police found a sword. The investigations continue today. According to a source, it seems that the target was the churches of Montpellier.

Le Point magazine reported that the arrests took place in the popular neighborhood of La Deveze, in the southeastern suburbs of Beziers. Citing a local source, the magazine writes that the women were known to have become radicalized and some of them were watching Islamic State videos.

Although the vast majority of jihadist attacks are carried out by men, in France some women have been convicted of such acts. In 2019, four women were sentenced to up to 30 years in prison for attempting to blow up a car near Notre Dame de Paris in 2016.

You may also like