French authorities have arrested three Algerian men, described as social media influencers, for allegedly posting violent content online. This comes amidst strained relations between France and Algeria, including a recent diplomatic incident concerning the Western Sahara.
The arrests, announced Sunday evening, mark the third in a series of recent detentions. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau stated that one influencer posted an anti-Semitic video to his TikTok account. Details about the alleged content and the suspects' nationalities and locations in France remain unclear.
The arrests took place in Grenoble, Montpellier, and Brest, highlighting the wide reach of the suspected influencers' activities. This surge in arrests coincides with a recent deterioration in Franco-Algerian relations. A significant contributing factor is a dispute over the Western Sahara region that led to the Algerian ambassador's withdrawal from Paris last summer.
Furthermore, Algeria's detention of French-Algerian author Boualem Sansal, an outspoken government critic, has further complicated the situation. French officials have, however, kept the tensions separate from the arrests. Minister Barrot stressed France's desire for positive relations but expressed doubts about Algeria's adherence to 2022 agreements aimed at reconciliation.
One influencer, a 25-year-old with a significant TikTok following, faces allegations of sympathy for terrorism and inciting attacks in France. Another influencer was arrested for allegedly making "vile comments" on the platform. The arrested individuals' potential connections to the Algerian government were not specified.
