One of Africa’s most wanted terrorists has released a video announcing his group has merged with another terror group aiming to take revenge on France for its intervention in Mali.
Mokhtar Belmokhtar, who has a $5 million bounty on his head by U.S. authorities, said his Masked Men Brigade will join with a Mali-based terror group to form Al-Murabitoun. Belmokhtar is the man believed to have masterminded the terror attack and hostage execution in Algerian plant in January. Continue reading
The French government hailed the election of a new president in Mali as vindication for its decision to send in troops to fight Islamic terrorists in that country.
French President Francois Hollande said the election was “remarkably transparent” and called newly-elected Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to tell him that France “will stand by Mali.” Continue reading
A second night of violence by Islamists angry over a French government ban on Muslim face veils burned at least 20 cars and led to four arrests.
A police official told reporters that at least 50 Islamists were involved, firing weapons at police. At least one assailant threw a gasoline bomb at police officers. Continue reading
In the wake of increased anti-terror efforts due to the country’s involvement in stopping the terrorist insurgency in Mali, the French anti-terror police have announced breaking up an Islamic terrorist cell that was targeting “well-known figures in France.”
Six suspects were arrested near Paris on Monday. Continue reading
A 21-year-old man has been arrested in the stabbing of a French soldier in Paris over the weekend and officials say he has admitted to the terror attack.
Officials said the man, identified as “Alexandre”, was a recent convert to Islam who sought to kill “a representative of the state” according to Prosecutor Francois Molins. Continue reading
The French Health Ministry has reported that a 65-year-old man has died from the novel coronavirus now called Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.
The death is the 23rd out of 44 confirmed cases in the world. The latest victim had traveled to Dubai where doctors believe he contracted the virus. Continue reading
Video evidence is leading French investigators to believe the attack on a French soldier this weekend was inspired by the Islamic extremist attack on a British soldier the previous week. Continue reading
Thirteen people are facing trial in Algiers for trafficking children from Algeria to France.
The illegal trade in children was discovered when a woman died in 2009 during a botched abortion in an illegal clinic owned by the main suspect in the trafficking ring. Continue reading
In 2000, a French TV station aired a news report that claimed Israeli forces had shot and killed a 12-year-old Palestinian boy as his father tried to shield him. Continue reading
France’s economy entered its second recession in four years according to data covering the first quarter of 2013.
The economy shrank two tenths of a percent in the first quarter of 2013 after having the same decline in the last quarter of 2012. President Francois Hollande now predicts zero growth for the country in 2013, less than previous government projections of .1% growth. Continue reading
