- Title: French police raid Muslim faith centre in counter-terrorism swoop
- Date: 2nd October 2018
- Summary: GRANDE-SYNTHE, FRANCE (OCTOBER 2, 2018) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF POLICE OFFICERS AROUND MUSLIM FAITH CENTRE ZAHRA FRANCE TALKING TO PASSERS-BY VARIOUS OF POLICE OFFICERS WALKING IN STREET POLICE CARS GATE SIGN FOR CENTRE OUTSIDE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF CENTRE ZAHRA FRANCE, JAMEL TAHIRI, WALKING TOWARDS BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (French) DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF CENTRE ZAHRA FRANCE, JAMEL TAHI
- Embargoed: 16th October 2018 14:49
- Keywords: counter-terror operation French police raid raid on Muslim faith centre raid in France
- Location: GRANDE SYNTHE, FRANCE
- City: GRANDE SYNTHE, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA00190DJJ2F
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: French police raided a Muslim faith centre and arrested three of its leaders for illegal weapons possession in pre-dawn swoops on Tuesday (October 2) that government officials said were prompted by suspicion of links to terrorist organisations.
France, home to Europe's largest Muslim community, remains on maximum alert after attacks in recent years in which Islamist militants and people inspired by radical groups such as Islamic State have killed close to 250 people.
Some 200 police officers including elite troopers from Paris took part in raids that began under darkness at the Centre Zahra France and homes of a dozen of its members, in Grande Synthe near the northern port town of Dunkirk.
Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said three people were put in custody after the discovery of illegal arms, and that a prayer room was being shut.
Two managers of the centre told journalists on Tuesday that the claims were baseless.
"We're against terrorism... We only know honest activists who are fighting Israel in their territory which has been occupied. If that's terrorism well then (French wartime leader Charles) de Gaulle was too," founder Yahia Gouasmi said.
Assets of the Centre Zahra France were frozen, along with financial assets held under other names, on orders issued by France's interior and finance ministry, a notice published in the official government journal of legal acts said.
The centre's website says it has some 8,000 "followers" on social network sites and its goal is to spread the message of Islam via film, radio, writings and conferences. It also offers a contact point on social, family and religious matters. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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