How child welfare addresses the risk of radicalization

Rescue in front of the former premises of "Charlie Hebdo", in Paris, after the knife attack of September 25, 2020. -

• On his arrival in France, Zaheer Hassan Mehmood, the main suspect in the chopper attack near the former Charlie Hebdo premises, claimed to be a minor and was taken into care by the Social Assistance for Children of Val d'Oise .

• The man was not on file and the departmental services did not note any sign of radicalization.

• Taking charge of radicalization is at the heart of the new challenges of child welfare.

  Since the 2015 attacks, many training courses have been put in place for educators.

Did Zaheer Hassan Mehmood even lie about his identity?

Or has the main suspect in the chopper attack near the former Charlie Hebdo premises also managed to cover up his radicalization?

Arrested an hour after the attack, the assailant - totally unknown to the intelligence services - explained, during his custody, that he thought he was attacking journalists from the satirical weekly - he was unaware that the newspaper had moved - after the republication of the Muhammad cartoons.

Likewise, during the two years that his care by the Social Assistance for Children (ASE) of Val d'Oise lasted, "no sign of radicalization had been observed", specified the departmental council. .

Because until this weekend, the suspect was known in France under the name Hassan Ali, aged 18.

If in police custody, he admitted to having lied about his identity and to have, in fact, 25 years old, in August 2018, when he presented himself to the social services of Val d'Oise, he claimed to be 16 years old.

The department, not believing in its minority, had initiated an appeal to contest his assumption of responsibility but the justice ordered his support until his "majority", that is to say August 10, 2020. Zaheer Hassan Mehmood was therefore the object , like all unaccompanied minors, a “first-time assessment” and then a second more detailed assessment after taking charge.

"It is carried out by a social worker, a lawyer and a translator and takes place in the form of a long interview", details the departmental council of Val d'Oise.

Better and better trained educators in the face of radicalization

These interviews make it possible to retrace the family, migratory journey and the social environment of the new person in care.

“Obviously, we are very attentive to the warning signals.

If there are elements in their speech or even in their behavior that put us on the alert, we dig in that direction.

Where do they come from and why did they flee their country?

What migratory routes did they take?

Are they reaching out to people they already know?

Do they agree to shake hands with their interlocutors?

So much information duly analyzed.

In case of doubt about a possible radicalization, the prefecture is immediately notified and if the situation requires it, the teenager is isolated from his comrades at home.

But nothing, neither in the speech, nor in the behavior of Zaheer Hassan Mehmood left, it seems, to predict his gesture.

After the attacks of January 2015, many departmental councils, like that of Val d'Oise, have set up training programs for their social workers to promote the detection and care of minors in the process of of radicalization.

In this department of the greater Parisian crown, this training is renewed each year.

"This allows our social workers to keep abreast of developments in this issue, advances in research or care," says one within the departmental council.

Within the Social Assistance for Children, practice analysis sessions are also organized with university psychologists to help educators to best respond to this problem.

A radicalization referent has been appointed to facilitate relations with the prefecture.

"These cases are still very rare", insists in the department, without however wanting to give figures.

"Exploit their vulnerability"

"Contrary to what the term" isolated minor "suggests, these young people are not alone, notes Anne-Marie Fauvet, president of the national liaison committee for those involved in specialized prevention.

They are part of a story, have social relationships, meet people.

However, we know very well that some malicious people seek to exploit their vulnerability.

According to a well-informed source, this risk can come from outside, but sometimes also from inside.

"In some homes, religion takes a very important place," she notes.

Citing an example in the north of France, she reports that “some educators use Islam as a means to reach certain young people, even to discredit some of their colleagues who reject this way of doing things.

“While specifying that this kind of problem remains rare.

Zaheer Hassan Mehmood, originally from Pakistan, one of the most conservative countries vis-à-vis Islam, did he switch to radicalism as soon as he was taken over or, on the contrary, did she express herself when, leaving social assistance for children - a month and a half ago - he lost all reference?

According to his former roommates or relatives, he had been compulsively viewing videos of religious leader Khadim Hussain Rizvi for a few weeks at the head of rallies in Pakistan against 

These questions have also arisen for other terrorists, like the Kouachi brothers.

Placed for many years in a home in Corrèze, the educators never noticed any signs of radicalization.

But shortly after his return to Paris, Chérif Kouachi got closer to the Buttes-Chaumont industry.

“The passage from childhood to adulthood is often difficult for these already weakened young people, insists Anne-Marie Fauvet.

And a meeting can tip them for the good or the bad.

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• Society