Overview
- Investigators opened a probe in early July into a WhatsApp group called “les soldats d’Allah” and arrested three French men who were placed in custody on Tuesday, September 1, for alleged jihadist activity.
- After four days of garde à vue the three suspects were brought before an anti‑terror investigating judge on September 4 and the Parquet national antiterroriste opened a judicial inquiry for association de malfaiteurs terroriste.
- The Pnat has asked that the men be mise en examen and held in pretrial detention, a step that in France triggers deeper judicial investigation and can be used to prevent suspected plots from moving forward.
- Prosecutors and sources say one of the suspects had a reported link to Jessica Bowie, a U.S. suspect arrested in August on allegations of preparing an ISIS‑linked attack in New York, underscoring possible cross‑border ties.
- Authorities continue a DGSI‑led investigation into what targets and methods the group discussed, while the case highlights growing use of private messaging for radicalization and the role of international law‑enforcement cooperation.