Overview
- The national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office charged four men aged 26 to 38 with forming a terrorist association to harm a person or persons, and they remain in custody.
- Prosecutors said they opened the inquiry on September 19 and tasked domestic intelligence with the case, leading to arrests carried out on Monday.
- Authorities have not publicly named the intended victim, but Vladimir Osechkin told AFP he was the target and thanked French counter-terrorism services.
- A source close to the case said the suspects are from Dagestan, with one holding French nationality, and that three allegedly visited Biarritz in April and filmed locations including Osechkin’s home.
- Investigators say the plot involved a plan to kill, harm, or abduct a Russian dissident, while past threats against Osechkin in 2022 prompted a probe that found no objective evidence at the time.