France To Create Anti-Radicalization Centers To Fight Terrorism, PM Manuel Valls Says
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls announced Monday that the country will set up centers in each region to de-radicalize people or prevent them from getting involved with jihadi groups. Valls also laid out new anti-terror measures, months after the deadly Paris attacks in November claimed lives of 130 people.
The initiative will cost $45.5 million by 2018 in addition to the current funding, Agence France-Presse reported, adding that the plan aims to double existing efforts to help people who are already part of jihadi networks or those likely to join such groups. The move comes as France remains under a state of emergency, which was put in place after the Islamic State group's attacks in the capital city.
Last month, the key living suspect of the Paris attacks, Salah Abdeslam, was extradited to France from Belgium. Abdeslam is suspected of helping transport three suicide bombers to Stade de France, where they blew themselves up, and is also believed to have purchased the detonators. The 26-year-old was placed in a high-security prison in Brussels, following his capture more than four months after the Paris attacks.
Just days after Abdeslam's capture, the Belgian capital came under attack on March 22. The bombings in Brussels Airport and metro station claimed lives of 32 people. Belgian authorities later found close links to the attacks in Paris and Brussels.
Meanwhile, on Monday, seven people were put on trial in Belgium over their links to a group with close ties to the militants who attacked Paris and Brussels. Prosecutors reportedly believe the group was run by Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the mastermind of the Paris attacks, who was killed during a raid days after the Nov. 13 attacks.
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