French anti-terrorism prosecutors announced Saturday the arrest of a 22-year-old Afghan man suspected of supporting the Islamic State group. The suspect, apprehended on Tuesday in southwestern France, is reportedly linked to a 27-year-old Afghan man arrested in Oklahoma, USA, who is charged with plotting an attack on election day.
The US suspect allegedly planned to target a football stadium or shopping center. According to a source close to the investigation, the two men are believed to be brothers, though prosecutors have not officially confirmed this relationship.
US officials reported that the Oklahoma suspect had been in contact with an individual identified by the FBI as an Islamic State group recruiter via the Telegram app. This information led to French authorities being alerted, resulting in the arrest of three individuals aged 20 to 31 in southwestern France.
While the main suspect remains in detention, the other two individuals have been released, according to prosecutors. The arrests highlight the ongoing international cooperation in counterterrorism efforts and the persistent threat posed by supporters of extremist groups.
