Seven in French custody for suspected ties with radical Muslims

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Five suspected radical Muslims who allegedly trained for combat in hopes of joining the Iraqi insurgency were being held for questioning in southern France, police and judicial officials said Thursday. A total of seven people were taken into custody Tuesday in the southern cities of Toulouse, Montpellier and Carcassonne, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of their offices' policies. Two were released Wednesday; the others were still being held. In a search of suspects' homes, police found knives, camouflage gear and Islamic documents, authorities said. Authorities believe they had been in contact with radical Muslims who allegedly trained to fight in Iraq by firing weapons in the woods of eastern France. Those suspects were rounded up in a November sweep.