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In an interview published Monday by French daily Le Depeche du Midi, Yves Bonnet insisted the radical Islamist networks operate by drug trafficking, adding that in his view “there is also the problem of money provided by Salafist countries”.
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TOULOUSE (AFP/EJP)---A formerhead of France's intelligence agency DST (Directorate of Territorial Surveillance) Yves Bonnet called into question the use of drug money, as well as funds from Saudi Arabia and Qatar in the financing of radical Islamist networks.
In an interview published Monday by French daily Le Depeche du Midi, he insisted these networks operate by drug trafficking, adding that in his view “there is also the problem of money provided by Salafist countries”.
“We don’t dare to talk about Saudi Arabia and Qatar, but it is perhaps also necessary to stop these people from privately funding certain worrying actions, “he claimed.
“One day, we’ll have to open an enquiry into Qatar, because there is a real problem. And I don't care about the results of (Qatari-owned French football club) Paris-Saint-Germain,” he added.
In a statement released Monday, the extreme-right National Front (FN) party insisted the former intelligence chief’s claims “validated (our) beliefs” regarding Qatari investment in France.
“It is clearly only the Socialist Party (headed by incumbent President Francois Hollande) and (the right-wing party of former President Nicholas Sarkozy) the UMP who believe that the Emirates invests €50 million in the French suburbs out of good intentions”, added controversial politician Marine Le Pen’s party.
“This weekend’s revelations in the case of the enquiry into the attempted Sarcelles attack must make us even more vigilant to the obvious radical ideological subversion that’s infecting French suburbs...This operation and the realities it exposed must convince (Minister of Industry) Arnaud Montebourg and (Foreign Minister) Laurent Fabius – who issued yesterday a welcome to Qatari investors – to reject such investments,” insisted the FN.
Qatari investment projects in France arouses questions from the political classes
After having invested in Paris-Saint-Germain, in the purchase of TV distribution rights, followed by the art market, Qatar could dedicate an investment fund of between €50-&00 million in the French suburbs.
A radical Islamist “cell” was defused Saturday and one of its members, a 33 year-old Frenchman of West Indian origin, was killed in Strasbourg after having opened fire on the arresting policemen. Eleven French individuals were held in custody until Monday.