Former Guantanamo Bay inmate among suspected Isis recruiters arrested in France
Algerian national was freed from detention centre with agreement from French government
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A former Guantanamo Bay inmate is among six people from an alleged Isis recruiting network who have been detained in France.
Among the suspects arrested was Sabir Mahfouz Lahmar, who was freed from the US detention centre in Cuba in 2009 after France agreed to accept him, said a judicial official.
He was one of six Algerians detained in Bosnia in 2001 on suspicion of plotting to bomb the US embassy in Sarajevo.
The US Justice Department later backed off the allegations, but held the men at Guantanamo for several years. The former French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, agreed to take Lahmar in April 2009 and he moved to Bordeaux later that year.
The French official said Lamar, at 48, is the oldest of the four men and two women who were arrested and said that there were no indications the group was plotting an attack.
Five of the suspects were detained in Bordeaux and one in Paris in a series of raids on Monday.
The arrests follow a series of foiled Isis-linked terror plots in France, which remains under a repeatedly extended state of emergency.
The country has been the target of terror attacks leaving around 240 people dead since 2014, including massacres in Paris and Nice.
Vigilance has been increased since a suicide bombing in Manchester killed 22 people last week, with police investigating the bomber's potential foreign links.
Isis has called for an escalation in global terror attacks by its followers during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments