Passports of ‘Syria-bound’ French citizens confiscated
Suspected of intending to head to Syria, six French citizens have reportedly had their passports confiscated in a move marking a first.
A security source reported the development on Monday, saying the suspects were “imminently” about to travel to Syria.
“Around 40 cases are currently under investigation” in addition to the six, the source noted.
Paris introduced a hail of laws in November 2014 to stop the trend of French people joining militancy. Among other things, the legislations empower authorities to confiscate passports as they see fit.
“There will be more,” said French Prime Minister Manuel Valls when asked about the case on Monday.
Some 1,400 people living in France have either joined militancy in Syria and Iraq or are planning to do so, Valls said last month.
Europe on edge
The US National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) said in an estimate on February 10 that more than 20,000 individuals from around the world, including some Americans, have traveled to Syria to join the ISIL Takfiri terrorists and other extremist groups.
Foreign militants from over 90 countries, including at least 3,400 people from Western states and more than 150 Americans, have traveled to Syria to join the terrorist groups there, the NCTC added.
Fears sustain across the continent concerning the gravitation of European nationals toward terrorist groups in the Middle East.
Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and Amira Abase, 15, left their homes in London on February 17 and traveled to Istanbul in Turkey by a Turkish Airlines flight, suspected of trying to join the ranks of the ISIL Takfiri terrorists in Syria.
The British government has said at least 600 British extremists have joined the ISIL terrorist group, which controls swathes of land in Iraq and Syria. More than 250 of the militants have already returned to the UK and could pose a security threat to the country.
HN/HSN/SS
French police arrest man after threatening to detonate himself at Iran consulate
French praise Iran missile retaliation against Israel
French public support for Israel plummets
Hackers break into Israeli military’s computers, access trove of documents
Tulkarm Brigade commander killed by Israeli forces in raid on refugee camp
Pro-Zionist media desperately trying to turn Israeli defeat into victory: Iran
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Iran censures US veto of Palestinian request for full UN membership
Over 14,000 kids killed in Israel’s war on Gaza: UNICEF
VIDEO | Iran’s National Army Day marked at the Iranian embassy in Moscow
VIDEO | Iranian culture fosters further development, understanding in SA
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
