France arrests far‑right policeman suspected of plotting terrorist attack and making 3D‑printed weapons

France arrests far‑right policeman suspected of plotting terrorist attack and making 3D‑printed weapons



Picture for illustration purposes only. A policeman who follows ‘a violent radical far-right ideology’ has been arrested in France on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack. — AFP pic


Summary

• A French policeman was arrested on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack and manufacturing weapons, linked to a far-right ideology.
• The 35-year-old officer, apprehended on August 23, faces charges including preparing a terrorist act and unauthorised weapon manufacture.
• The arrest follows controversy involving France's National Rally party expelling another officer for racist behaviour, as Marine Le Pen prepares for the upcoming presidential election.

First Published: Friday, 18 Sep 2026 9:51 AM MYT


PARIS, Sept 18 — A policeman who follows “a violent radical far-right ideology” has been arrested in France on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack, sources told AFP late yesterday.

Confirming a report by the TF1/LCI broadcaster, a judicial source said that the man was also suspected of having manufactured weapons, among other crimes.


A separate source close to the case told AFP that the police officer, aged 35, was “apprehended on the street” on August 23.

He has since been placed in detention while awaiting trial.


According to TF1/LCI, the officer “is suspected of having planned to carry out violent attacks against the interests of the state” and of having “manufactured 3D-printed weapons”, among other things.


The policeman faces charges including preparing a terrorist act, the unauthorised manufacture or trade in weapons in connection with a terrorist organisation and unauthorised weapon possession.

He is also charged with incitement to terrorism through social media.


The police officer’s lawyers had not responded to AFP as of yesterday evening.

The news comes in the wake of revelations that France’s far-right National Rally (RN) party expelled another policeman after body cam footage of him making racist comments sparked outrage.

The RN’s Marine Le Pen hopes to become France’s president in next year’s elections after years of seeking to make the anti-immigration party she inherited from her father more palatable to the wider public. — AFP