France Investigates Antisemitic Attack Plot

0:00On this March 15th, here's what's shaping the world. Two young men in France are now under formal investigation for plotting a deadly anti-Semitic attack. The counterterrorism prosecutors office announced this on March 15th. They face charges of terrorist conspiracy and possessing a weapon for terror purposes and both are in pretrial detention. Authorities found Jihadist propaganda on their digital devices. One of the brothers even filmed a video pledging allegiance to ISIS. Their full identities have not been released. This comes amid a string of recent incidents targeting Jewish sites. A gunman crashed a truck into a synagogue near Detroit on Thursday. An explosion caused minor damage to a Jewish school in Amsterdam on Saturday and another blast sparked a fire at a synagogue in Belgium on Monday. France's interior ministry boosted security around Jewish places of worship earlier this month in response. Officials note these measures aim to prevent further threats. Anti-Semitism has spiked globally since the 2023 Hamas attack and Israel's war in Gaza.

1:03In France, acts surged to record levels after that event, but dropped 16% this year compared to last. Human rights groups highlight rising biases against Jews, Muslims, and Arabs worldwide. Support for this episode comes from our sponsor. See the description. A pillow that plays your podcast, music, or white noise privately. No earbuds required. S-O-L-I, solely pillow.com.