11 arrested in counter-terror raid in France

Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-02 17:36:12|Editor: mmm
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PARIS, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Police arrested 11 men suspected of supporting terrorist organizations in northern France during a dawn operation, according to local reports on Tuesday.

The raid targeted the headquarters of the Center Zahra France and 12 homes of its members in an area near Dunkirk in the country's northern coast.

"This operation is within the framework of the prevention of terrorism," prefect's office was quoted as saying by regional television France 3 Nord.

"The activities of Center Zahra France are under particularly close watch given its leaders' clear support for several terrorist organizations and movements espousing ideas contrary to (French) republican values," it added.

France has become a major target of terrorist attacks following its military operations in Syria, Iraq and the Sahel region.

A wave of attacks, claimed by the Islamic State, had broken the calm several times in the country with the bloodiest one in Paris where a series of attacks resulted in 130 victims in Nov. 2015.

On October 2017, French President Emmanuel Macron signed an anti-terrorism law which he said was necessary to beef up security to combat terrorism.

The bill enshrines emergency security rules into ordinary law that allow police to have more power to search and arrest without court approval.

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