French authorities have arrested a 22-year-old Afghan man who they believe was planning a terrorist attack in a busy public space, such as a football stadium or a shopping center. This shocking arrest, which took place on Tuesday in the Occitanie region of southwestern France, was reported by AFP news agency, quoting the French anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office (PNAT). The case appears to be connected to an earlier Election Day plot in the United States.
The suspect, whose name has not been revealed, is said to be a supporter of the Islamic State (ISIS) and had allegedly been discussing his violent plans with others through the messaging app Telegram. He was arrested alongside two other men, also of Afghan descent. After being questioned in Paris, the other two men were released, but the main suspect remains in custody and has been charged with “terrorist criminal association.”
Authorities believe the man became radicalized and adopted extremist views while living in France, where he has resided for the past three years. He is also believed to be from the Tajik community in Afghanistan. His arrest was made possible after U.S. officials shared crucial information with their French counterparts, linking the French case to a separate U.S. investigation.
In the U.S., authorities recently arrested a 27-year-old Afghan man named Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, who was also allegedly plotting a terror attack on Election Day, November 5th. Tawhedi had been living in the U.S. since 2021. According to investigators, he was deeply involved with ISIS propaganda, communicated with an Islamic State recruiter on Telegram, and even sent $540 in cryptocurrency to a suspicious charity in Syria that allegedly funds the terrorist group.
The U.S. investigation into Tawhedi’s activities led to a breakthrough in France, prompting the arrests there. The details about how exactly the two cases are connected remain unclear, but it’s evident that authorities are treating this as a serious international terror threat.
Tawhedi, now facing charges in the U.S., is accused of conspiring to support ISIS and planning to carry out a terrorist attack. Investigations are ongoing, and both the U.S. and French authorities are working together to uncover more details about the potential terror plots in both countries.
These arrests highlight how terror networks may be working across borders, and it shows how sharing intelligence between countries is crucial to stopping dangerous attacks before they happen. The situation is still unfolding, and more information could come to light as investigators dig deeper into the international terror links.
