He was arrested Friday morning. Youcef A., a 25-year-old influencer followed by more than 400,000 people on the networks under the nickname “Zazou Youcef”, was the first of three Algerian influencers to be arrested this weekend, while three others are in the sights of the authorities in the Lyon region. All are suspected of having published videos in which they called for attacks in France and violence in Algeria.
After several days in police custody, Zazou Youcef was indicted and imprisoned. According to West Francethe accused was placed in solitary confinement. Fearing that he would not be able to interact with other prisoners, the Algerian was sent to the neighboring prison of Lorient (Morbihan). Placed in pre-trial detention, he will be tried on February 24 for “apology of terrorism” and faces seven years in prison and a fine of 100,000 euros.
According to our colleagues, the isolation area of the Brest house is “not watertight” and risked allowing the suspect to establish contact with other detainees. In police custody, Zazou Youcef admitted to being the author of the videos. “He explained that his message was intended for the Algerian community and that it targeted opponents of the regime in place in Algeria,” the Brest prosecutor’s office said. Videos dating from October 2024 were also included in the proceedings.
He had been living under OQTF for months
Found guilty of theft in January 2023, he was also sentenced to one year in prison in December 2023 for damage committed during the riots of June 2023 which followed Nahel's death. He appealed this decision. He would have arrived in France in 2020 and had a residence permit valid until March 2024. “He had a residence permit as the parent of a French child since he had a child with a person of French nationality,” the prefect had specified. Given his record, he was subject to an Obligation to Leave French Territory (OQTF).
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