Overview

• Aged 15 and 17, the suspects were arrested on July 29–30 and placed under formal investigation on August 1 for association de malfaiteurs criminelle terroriste, according to judicial sources.
• Investigators say the pair connected in a dedicated encrypted messaging group and shared Islamic State propaganda while discussing violent action.
• Media reports indicate they considered targets including synagogues and the Eiffel Tower and looked on the dark web for weapons, details that remain under judicial scrutiny.
• Sources describe discussions about departing abroad to wage jihad alongside the dissemination of jihadist content.
• Authorities note a broader rise in cases involving minors, with French figures climbing since 2022 and Europol reporting a significant share of terrorism arrests under age 20 in 2024.