Youcef A., 25, as well as another man aged 41, also Algerian, suspected of being his accomplice and who housed him, were arrested by police in Brest, in the west of France.
The two men “were both placed in police custody for acts of apology for an act of terrorism and provocation to hatred and violence”, the Brest public prosecutor told AFP. Camille Miansoni.
Originally, on Tuesday, December 31, a video was published on the social network TikTok, where the influencer, followed by hundreds of thousands of followers, spoke vehemently in Arabic, subtitled in French, calling to carry out attacks in France and violence in Algeria.
“When the police informed me that they had detected this video, I asked them to immediately contact the prosecution so that a judicial inquiry would immediately give us the means to investigate,” the prefect told AFP. from Finistère Alain Espinasse.
On Friday, it was Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau who was the first to announce his arrest.
“The Algerian influencer +Zazouyoussef+ who called on his community to commit attacks in France will have to answer for his actions before the courts,” declared Bruno Retailleau on X.
Youcef A., born in Mostaganem in the northwest of Algeria, declared that he arrived in France in 2020, and received a residence permit in March 2023, valid until March 14, 2024, according to Mr. Espinasse.
During the urban riots which shook France in June 2023, Youcef A. was arrested for having taken part in the damage to a sports complex in Brest and sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment.
“He appealed immediately after his conviction,” which explains why he was not imprisoned, Mr. Espinasse said.
Youcef A. was included in the wanted persons file for evading an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF).
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