Child Radicalization on the Internet: A Growing Concern
A 12 and a half year old child from Sochaux (Doubs) is facing prosecution for advocating acts of terrorism. The Montbéliard prosecutor, Paul-Édouard Lallois, revealed that the child's internet activities alerted authorities to his radical religious tendencies. The boy, who lived with his mother and siblings, was described as discreet and withdrawn. However, his online activities on social networks and video game platforms showed a manifest interest in radical content, including videos of killings.
Increased Interest in Explosives and Weapons
Investigations uncovered the boy's increased interest in explosives and weapons, with a common thread of radical Islamism in his online publications. Despite his young age, the boy admitted to the facts when arrested. The prosecutor expressed shock at the content the boy had accessed and noted a provisional psychiatric expert's conclusion of an alteration in the boy's discernment.
The boy is being prosecuted for public apology for an act of terrorism committed via the Internet and direct provocation to acts of terrorism. Given his age, he could not be placed under judicial supervision and was instead placed under a provisional judicial educational measure. He is set to appear before the children’s judge at the end of August. The boy's parents, who are separated, have been exonerated from any involvement, although a clear parental conflict was noted.
- The phenomenon of minors being seduced by jihadist propaganda on social media is increasingly difficult to track. Authorities are concerned about the rapid radicalization of young people, often facilitated by other Islamists on social networks or through more traditional means. The recent case in Sochaux is a stark example of this growing threat.
- The initial alert came on June 7 when the Montbéliard public prosecutor's office was informed by the DGSI about suspicious elements observed on social networks. This led to the investigation into advocating terrorism. The prosecutor emphasized the importance of monitoring and addressing the issue of youth radicalization to prevent such incidents in the future.
