Prosecutors in Paris have called for seven men — including a serving soldier and a former police officer — to stand trial over the alleged trafficking of weapons to individuals with far-right ties.
The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (Pnat) confirmed to French news agency AFP that it had requested a trial before the criminal court for six of the accused, and a hearing before the juvenile court for a seventh, who was a minor at the time of the alleged offences.
Information seen by AFP indicates that the serving soldier is suspected of having obtained weapons from the retired police officer, then reselling them to individuals linked to the far right.
In a Telegram messaging group, some of the suspects allegedly discussed potential targets, including mosques, while the soldier proposed organising a combat training course.
“The threat posed by radical violent far-right networks is receiving our close attention,” the Pnat told AFP, adding that it was “fuelled by the climate of anxiety” prevalent in certain parts of society.
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The prosecutor’s office noted a “steady growth” in judicial cases involving far-right extremism.
In 2025, three such cases involved foiled attacks, as well as a racially motivated assault in Puget-sur-Argens, southern France, in which Tunisian hairdresser Hichem Miraoui was killed.
Other investigations have focused on members of the so-called “incel” community with plans to target women, and on survivalist movements.
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In the current case, prosecutors have sought charges for terrorist conspiracy and weapons offences, though they concluded that the retired officer’s role appeared primarily “mercantile”.
The final decision on whether to proceed to trial lies with the investigating magistrate.
(with newswires)
