The minister of the Interior Bernard Cazeneuve presented the anti-terrorism bill to French leaders, stating a record number of involved individuals. At the beginning of his speech Cazeneuve specified that “terrorist groups have nothing to do with the Islam of France.”
He then listed an unsettling number of Frenchmen involved in jihadist networks. “Despite engaged efforts, the number of young radicalized, jihadist Frenchmen in this country has not ceased to grow,” said Cazeneuve.
The number of combatants has risen from 234 to 334 in six months, including 55 women and seven minors. “These figures require us to take measures to stem this phenomenon,” he argued. The rise of those involved in more general jihadist networks has risen 56% in six months. “What we are confronted with constantly changes,” he noted, stating that one shouldn’t believe “in the concept of the lone wolf.”
