Three women jailed for allegedly plotting attacks on bars and concert halls

Saturday 08 November 2025 - 13:00

By: Sahili Aya

Three women jailed for allegedly plotting attacks on bars and concert halls

Three young women aged 18, 19, and 21 have been charged and remanded in custody in France on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack targeting bars or concert venues in Paris. The arrests come just weeks before the country marks the tenth anniversary of the November 13, 2015 attacks that claimed 130 lives.

According to the French National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT), the suspects were indicted on October 10 for participation in a terrorist criminal association with the intent to commit crimes against persons. The three French nationals were detained in Lyon, Vierzon, and Villeurbanne following a joint investigation by the DGSI, France’s domestic intelligence agency.

Investigators believe the 19-year-old suspect, who is not in school and currently unemployed, played a leading role in organizing the group. Communications between her and an identified Islamist contact reportedly revealed discussions about acquiring a Kalashnikov-style assault rifle and producing explosive belts.

Sources close to the case say that the women met at least once to discuss their plan, reinforcing suspicions of a possible move toward action. However, defense lawyers urge caution, highlighting the need to distinguish between genuine intent and youthful delusion. One of the accused reportedly suffers from a motor disability and was previously homeless, while another has been described as “emotionally immature.”

The ongoing investigation aims to determine the seriousness of their intentions, the level of preparation, and whether the group had the capacity to carry out an attack. This case marks the sixth foiled terrorist plot in France since the beginning of 2025, according to official sources.