Islamophobia in Paris and London – how it differs and why
Islamophobia in France and Britain has intensified in recent years, particularly in the wake of terrorist incidents, such as the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris and the London Bridge attack. This led British prime minister, Theresa May, and French president, Emmanuel Macron, to meet in January 2018 to agree a shared approach to counter-terrorism. In many respects, France […]
Top Paris Attacks Suspect on Trial for First Time, in Brussels
After nearly two years in solitary confinement at a maximum security jail, the top surviving suspect of the deadliest terror attack in recent French history goes on trial Monday in Brussels. The four-day trial of 28-year-old Salah Abdeslam will not deal directly with the November 2015 attacks that killed 130 people around Paris, but rather […]
Paris Orly Airport Attacker Said He Wanted ‘to Die for Allah’
A Frenchman with suspected links to radical Islam shot dead at Paris’ Orly airport Saturday morning shouted he wanted to “die for Allah” and tried to seize a female soldier’s assault rifle. The man, identified as 39-year-old Ziyed Ben Belgacem, apparently intending to open fire on passengers, a prosecutor said. Two colleagues on patrol with […]
Paris rally over alleged police rape descends into riot
A peaceful rally in a Paris suburb has descended into violence amid anger over the case of a black youth worker who was allegedly raped with a police baton. Police on Saturday fired tear gas at protesters who threw projectiles at officers and set cars and rubbish bins alight. More than 2,000 people gathered peacefully […]
Paris Mosque Pulls Out of State-sponsored Muslim Foundation
The influential Paris Grand Mosque has announced it is pulling out of a new, state-sponsored Muslim foundation, criticizing “interference” in how Islam is exercised at a time of simmering tensions and divisions surrounding France’s second-largest faith. The mosque, which represents about one-tenth of France’s 2,500 mosques and Muslim associations, called on other Muslim groups to […]
A Belgian woman explains why she joined ISIS, and why she came back
When three women were arrested recently in Paris for an attempted car bombing in the heart of the city, attention turned to female jihadists and the apparently growing number of Western women who sympathize with ISIS. Laura Passoni is among at least 550 women known to have traveled to Syria and Iraq to join ISIS, […]
Paris prosecutor claims terror attack on capital prevented
The Paris Prosecutor claimed on Friday that a terror attack planned for next Thursday has been prevented. François Molins said five suspects have been arrested on suspicion of planning attacks on police and other security targets in and around France’s capital. Automatic weapons were found after raids in Strasbourg and Marseille the police said. And […]