French authorities have arrested and charged a 17-year-old from Vesoul, Haute-Saône, in connection with an alleged terror plot, the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) confirmed. The teenager, taken into custody on March 13, is being investigated for “participation in a criminal conspiracy with intent to commit one or more attacks.”
Initially detained for carrying a knife near his school, the case quickly escalated when authorities examined his social media activity. The teen, who had openly pledged allegiance to Daesh, had reportedly marked several potential targets for attacks during Ramadan, including a church, a synagogue, and U.S. or Israeli-affiliated sites. Investigators found evidence of these threats on his encrypted Telegram account, further solidifying suspicions.
French law enforcement considers this arrest a major counterterror success—the first of the year—amid growing concerns over radicalization in schools. This follows a string of knife attacks earlier in January and February, fueling worries about extremist influences spreading among young people.
The suspect’s lawyer, Réda Ghilaci, insists his client is not radicalized but rather a troubled youth battling severe emotional distress. Speaking to AFP, he argued that the teenager’s intentions stemmed from a deep personal crisis rather than genuine terrorist motives.
“My client is a minor, legally a child under multiple international conventions. He is emotionally fragile. His actions weren’t about radicalism; they were a desperate call for help,” Ghilaci explained.
In 2024 alone, nearly 20 minors in France have faced terror-related charges. Experts warn that online radicalization, including extremist content circulated through video games, is playing a growing role in shaping these threats.
While the defense claims mental instability rather than ideological extremism motivated the suspect, his case underscores a broader issue—Islamist influence and violence remain deeply embedded in segments of French society, posing ongoing security challenges.
