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On Tuesday, September 30, the Paris criminal court handed down sentences to sixteen members of the far-right group «Action des forces opérationnelles» (AFO), including three women. These individuals received various prison terms, some suspended, and fines. Notably, six of them were sentenced to two years in prison for plotting Islamophobic attacks against Muslims. The group, whose members range in age from 39 to 76, was found guilty of «associating with a terrorist group» as they prepared for a «confrontation with the Muslim community».
According to AFP, those sentenced «will serve their terms under electronic monitoring at home». Additionally, one member received a one-year sentence, while five others were handed suspended sentences. Four more were fined for illegal weapons possession.
The convicted include Guy Sibra, 72, the alleged founder of AFO; Bernard Sorel, 76, leader of the Île-de-France cell; and Daniel Raimbault, 39, a former soldier recruited for his expertise in explosives.
The presiding judge remarked that by planning «retaliatory operations» against Muslims in response to potential attacks and preparing for violent actions, the defendants «fell into the trap of terrorism by responding to terror with terror».
The trial commenced last June, following an order by the anti-terrorism investigating judge in August 2024 to bring the defendants to court. The AFO members aimed to «raise awareness (...) of the risk of Islamist infiltration» and to «restore» an «inheritance» from their ancestors for future generations.
Among their plans was an operation dubbed «halal operation», where AFO women would disguise themselves «under niqabs» to poison food in supermarket halal sections with cyanide or rat poison, intending to harm consumers and «discredit halal food».
The group also plotted to assassinate «200 radicalized imams» and to blow up a mosque door in Hauts-de-Seine, even considering a plan to «remotely detonate a couscous pot». The prosecution had initially sought sentences of up to five years in prison, with immediate incarceration.
