French counterterrorism authorities have apprehended two brothers in connection with a foiled terrorist scheme described as both lethal and antisemitic in nature. The suspects, identified as Elyasse H, 22, and Moad H, 20, were taken into custody near a prison facility in Longuenesse, a town in northern France, following an extensive investigation.
According to the National Anti-Terror Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT), the individuals—holding Italian and Moroccan citizenship—were intercepted while traveling in a vehicle containing alarming evidence. Law enforcement officials discovered an arsenal that included a semi-automatic firearm, hydrochloric acid, aluminum foil, and an Islamic State group flag prominently displayed on the driver’s headrest.
During interrogation, both brothers reportedly confessed to actively planning a terrorist attack on French soil, expressing their aspiration for martyrdom in the process. Investigators determined the pair had undergone significant radicalization over approximately two years, consuming substantial jihadist propaganda that influenced their deadly intentions.
The investigation revealed the brothers had abandoned plans to travel to conflict zones in Syria or Palestine, instead opting to target locations within France. Evidence included a recently recorded video by Moad H. pledging allegiance to the Islamic State extremist organization. Additionally, encrypted messaging communications indicated active attempts to procure handguns and assault rifles, suggesting their plot was nearing execution phase.
The siblings, who arrived in France with their family in 2017, maintained connections with other radicalized individuals, including some already under investigation or convicted for terrorism-related offenses. French prosecutors have formally requested terrorism charges and pre-trial detention for both suspects as the judicial process continues.