France detains two minors in alleged Jihadist plot against synagogues, Eiffel Tower

French police have arrested two teenagers suspected of plotting terrorist attacks targeting synagogues and the Eiffel Tower.

According to Le Figaro report on August 26, the suspects — born in 2010 and 2008 in Val-de-Marne and Paris — were taken into custody on July 29 and 30 as part of an investigation that began in April 2025. Both minors have been charged with participation in a “terrorist criminal association.”

Authorities revealed that the two teenagers, who come from families of Arab-Muslim origin, were in contact with members of an underground online community. They allegedly attempted to procure weapons via the dark web and frequently exchanged what investigators described as “ultra-violent content.” Discussions reportedly included the idea of travelling abroad to “go on jihad.”

Investigators noted that their conversations had more recently shifted toward potential attacks within France, specifically mentioning synagogues — in connection with Israel’s military operations in Gaza — and the Eiffel Tower as possible targets. Although no specific attack location had been finalised, the suspects had already begun searching online for firearms.

The two appeared in court on August 1, where they were formally charged with “criminal conspiracy to commit terrorism.” Authorities also said the pair were active supporters and promoters of the ideology of the Islamic State group.

The report highlights a troubling trend: while only two minors were arrested on terrorism-related charges in 2022, the number rose to 15 in 2023, 18 in 2024, and 13 so far in 2025. Europol data indicates that nearly one-third of terrorism suspects in the European Union are between the ages of 12 and 20. In response to this surge, France’s National Terrorism Prosecution Office established a special division for cases involving minors in May.

By Tamilla Hasanova