A French boy who collected and shared as many as 1,700 jihadi propaganda and execution videos on encrypted messaging apps has been found guilty of glorifying terrorism by a French court.
The 12-year-old boy, from the French commune of Sochaux, was found guilty on Wednesday, August 21, Montbéliard Public Prosecutor Paul-Edouard Lallois announced.
Since December 2023, the boy, described as having “significant vulnerabilities,” recorded over 1,700 videos related to jihadist propaganda and executions, which he then shared via encrypted messaging services.
During a nearly four-hour closed-door hearing, the boy admitted to exploring Islam and joining radical discussion channels on platforms like Discord and Telegram.
He acknowledged being recruited into these radical circles. Given his age, the court cannot impose judicial control; instead, he is under provisional educational measures while awaiting sentencing in seven months.
Currently separated from his family, the boy has been placed in a collective care facility where he receives support and educational attention.
His parents, who have been cleared of any involvement, were separated, and he lived with his mother and siblings. Known to be quiet and withdrawn, the boy had not been noticed at school or in his community.
France’s neighbor, the UK, has also seen several young people arrested in recent weeks on the other end of the political spectrum for taking part in anti-mass migration riots that were sparked by the murder of three young girls, allegedly by a teen born to Rwandan parents.
At least two 12-year-olds were arrested by British police, with one of the boys in Manchester pleading guilty to charges of violent behavior at two protests on July 31 and August 3.
Image generated by artificial intelligence for illustrative purposes only.
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