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Romain GAILLARD-POOL / SIPA

The 18-year-old Biterroise, suspected of having planned a terrorist attack on a church, was indicted Thursday and imprisoned.

The young woman had been in police custody since her arrest overnight from Saturday to Sunday, after a search of the family home, in a popular district of Béziers (Hérault).

Presented Thursday to a Parisian anti-terrorist judge, she was indicted for "criminal terrorist association" and "possession of incendiary or explosive products" in connection with a terrorist company, according to a judicial source.

She was remanded in custody, in accordance with the requisitions of the anti-terrorism prosecution.

The young woman, "out of school for two years" and "never sentenced", was unknown to the services, until very recent information "indicating a threat of attack against a church", according to a statement from the prosecution.

Cooperation with Morocco

The Moroccan services claimed on Tuesday the paternity of the pipe, indicating in a statement having transmitted on April 1 to their French counterparts "precise information on a French citizen of Moroccan origin who was planning an imminent terrorist operation targeting a church in France", " in coordination with elements of Daesh ”, the Islamic State group.

Without confirming this information, a source close to the investigation stressed to AFP the "particularly dense and very confident cooperation" with Morocco, "particularly reactive as soon as information is likely to concern the security of French territory" .

On April 3, a search of the young woman's home enabled investigators to find products used to manufacture explosives (acetone, sulfuric acid, hydrogen peroxide), two potential "improvised explosive devices being assembled", as well as "Handwritten notes evoking various violent action projects" and jihadist documentation, "referring" in particular to the Islamic State group.

"She wanted to attack churches"

Investigators also got their hands on "a printed photograph of the beheading of Samuel Paty", "as well as photographs depicting armed jihadists".

"She wanted to attack churches, including one near her home, and spoke of other targets, including a college," said a source familiar with the matter, while the initial information referred to churches in Montpellier.

According to the anti-terrorism prosecution, a drawing of a church in her neighborhood was seized from her home.

Our Terrorism file

Coming from a "very precarious, desocialized environment", she is "very depressed, suicidal, but at the same time in a desire for hatred, revenge against the Republic and its institutions", adds the source close to the file.

“She talks a lot about the State of Israel and the churches.

Her mother and her three sisters, arrested with her, were also released between Monday and Wednesday.

"No element has come to implicate" this family circle and "no element of radicalization has also been noted concerning them", details the press release of the anti-terrorism prosecution.

Justice

Terrorist attack project in Béziers: The main suspect presented before an examining magistrate

Justice

Hérault: An 18-year-old woman suspected of planning an attack is still in custody

  • Montpellier

  • Languedoc-Roussillon

  • Terrorism

  • Investigation

  • Beziers

  • Justice