France faces an unprecedented terrorism threat amplified by social media radicalization, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau warned on the 10th anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attack.
Speaking to Le Parisien, Retailleau revealed that French intelligence prevented nine planned terrorist attacks in 2023 alone, including three targeting the upcoming Olympic Games. He emphasized the growing concern over young people being radicalized through social networks, potentially collaborating with foreign terrorist groups.
"France could be hit tomorrow," Retailleau cautioned, noting that while the country has strengthened its counter-terrorism capabilities since 2015, "the battle against Islamic totalitarianism is far from won."
The minister's warnings came as France marked a decade since the January 7, 2015 attack on Charlie Hebdo's offices, where brothers Chérif and Saïd Kouachi killed 12 people, including prominent cartoonists and a police officer. The assault sparked global solidarity under the "Je Suis Charlie" movement.
President Emmanuel Macron led commemorative ceremonies across Paris, including gatherings at the former Charlie Hebdo offices and the Hyper Cacher supermarket, where related attacks claimed additional lives in the days following the newspaper massacre.
The anniversary comes amid evolving challenges in France's fight against terrorism. While the immediate threat previously came primarily from within France, Retailleau highlighted a concerning trend of domestic radicals potentially forming alliances with international terrorist networks through social media platforms.
The minister's statements reflect broader concerns about how social networks have transformed the landscape of extremism, allowing for rapid radicalization and international coordination among potential attackers.
In response to ongoing threats, Macron announced plans to proceed with a museum-memorial dedicated to terrorism victims at Mont Valérien, scheduled to open in 2027.
The commemorations occurred against a backdrop of continued debate about freedom of expression, religious sensitivity, and national security in France, issues that remain as relevant today as they were during the 2015 attacks.