France’s interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, has warned that the country is facing its greatest threat from terrorism fueled by social media, just 10 years after the deadly attack on Charlie Hebdo newspaper in 2015. The attack, which killed 12 people, sparked an international outcry and a renewed focus on fighting extremism.
Retailleau stated that French intelligence had foiled nine planned attacks last year, including three targeting the Olympic Games, making it the largest number of prevented attacks since 2017. He attributed the threat to youngsters radicalized by social media and their increasing collaboration with foreign groups.
The minister expressed concern that France could be hit again at any moment, highlighting the ongoing battle against Islamic totalitarianism. Retailleau also warned that the threat now comes from both domestic sources, such as radicalized young people on social networks, and foreign groups collaborating together.
To mark the anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attack, a commemorative double-issue was published, featuring cartoons from the magazine that sparked widespread international support for the victims. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, will attend ceremonies in Paris to remember those killed, including Clarissa Jean-Philippe, who was shot by a terrorist on her way home from work.
The French government is also reviving plans to build a multimillion-euro museum-memorial at Mont Valérien to honor the victims of terrorism. The plan had been previously dropped but Macron has announced its revival with a planned opening in 2027.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/07/social-media-fuelling-rising-terror-threat-in-france-says-minister