A 16-year-old girl who was ready to commit a terror attack in France has been arrested and detained in Seine-et-Marne, on the outskirts of Paris. The minor, who cannot be named, is under investigation for “associating with wrong-doers in a criminal conspiracy” and “provoking the commission of terrorist acts through online communications”.
A judicial source said that the girl had been using the encrypted Telegram programme to send and receive messages. Telegram is a favoured means of communication among jihadists.
A source close to the investigation said that the girl was “very radicalised,” and had been relaying messages as the administrator of a group on Telegram. She had not only tried to instigate terror attacks but had also expressed her intention to take part in an attack.
She has no previous criminal record and a search of her family home failed to find any arms or explosives. No other arrests have been made and the anti-terror police are searching her telephone and computer.
The Telegram messaging service was launched three years ago and was designed by Russian nationals. An individual code is needed to decipher messages.