French police arrest six on Syria jihadism charges

Paris, May 13: French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve Tuesday announced the arrest of six suspected jihadis who had joined rebel forces in Syria.

The move is part of a government plan to counter French nationals taking part in jihadism in Syria that also puts at risk French security, Xinhua reported citing cazeneuve.

"(The six people are) suspected of belonging to a jihadi group and recently traveling to Syria," the minister said. The six men have been arrested in the eastern town of Strasbourg and are in custody, he said.

"The jihadis' arrest is another demonstration of the government's determination to fight terrorism and the recruitment of young people who have been radicalised," Cazeneuve added.

Last month, the French Socialist party pledged to boost cyber-security and increase contact with jihadis' families to curb the alarming number of radicalised nationals joining fighters in Syria.

About 700 French nationals and residents are said to have joined the Syrian civil war, with 285 nationals still in the war-torn country.

IANS