French authorities have detained seven suspected Islamic militants, who were allegedly training to fight in Iraq by firing weapons in the woods of eastern France. Ranging in age from early 20’s to mid-40’s, six of the men are French citizens of Bosnian origin, and the seventh is Algerian. All of the men were arrested in the towns of Besancon and Pontarlier in eastern France. French counterterrorism officials worry that such militancy could lead to terror attacks in France, even with the French opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. Prosecutors are expected to file preliminary charges, accusing the men of criminal association with a terror group, carrying a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
