French burger joint robbed to fund Syrian jihad

Four Islamists from a 12-man terrorist cell in Paris have been arrested after an armed robbery of a fast food restaurant in Yvelines, France.  The men, all in their 20s or early 30s, stole 3,000 euros which authorities say would be used to finance jihad in Syria, including travel by cell members to the war front.

Some of the cell members have already departed for Syria.  French authorities say that at least 100 fighters currently in Syria are from France or were living in France prior to joining the battle against Bashar al-Assad.

Given that France has Western Europe’s largest Muslim population, the use of France as a funding base for Islamic terrorism is critically important to understand and monitor.  Thanks to Arun for sending this in from AP:

French police detain 4 suspected of robbing restaurant to finance jihad in Syria

Friday, September 6, 2013

By The Associated Press

PARIS – French authorities have detained four suspected extremists accused of robbing a fast food restaurant in order to finance their planned travel to fight alongside Islamic extremists in Syria.

Prosecutor’s office spokeswoman Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre says the four men, all French citizens, are being held on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act, as well as armed robbery of a Quick hamburger restaurant Wednesday in the suburbs of Paris.

She said the suspects were being questioned Friday by anti-terrorist investigators.

They can be held up to four days under France’s anti-terrorism laws.

More details are available in French from Europe1.