Charges Filed and Judicial Measures On 20 February 2026 the Parquet national antiterroriste (PNAT) placed two 16‑year‑old boys under formal examination for a jihadist plot in the Nord region, announcing the charges publicly [1]. The alleged leader was ordered into pre‑trial detention while the second youth was placed under judicial supervision, prompting a judicial investigation to probe the case further [1]. These actions reflect the French authorities’ swift legal response to youth‑involved terrorism threats [1].

Planned Target and Preparation Details Prosecutors said the teenagers intended to attack either a shopping centre or a concert hall in northern France, indicating a focus on public spaces with high civilian presence [1]. The presumed mastermind planned to “steal” a firearm and had acquired chemicals to conduct combustion tests at his home, demonstrating concrete steps toward violent execution [1]. Such preparatory actions underscore the seriousness of the intercepted plot [1].

Rise in Minor‑Involved Terrorism Cases Prosecutor Olivier Christen noted that 22 minors were charged with terrorism offenses in 2025, representing roughly one‑third of all terrorism procedures and 20 % of yearly examinations [1]. Many of these youths are described as isolated school‑dropouts, highlighting a demographic trend within French terrorism investigations [1]. The increase signals a growing challenge for law‑enforcement agencies to address radicalisation among adolescents [1].

Social Media’s Role in Radicalisation Christen warned that TikTok and Telegram algorithms rapidly funnel youths searching for ultra‑violent content toward jihadist propaganda, convincing them that societal grievances justify attacks without direct terrorist contacts [1]. The article emphasizes the speed and opacity of algorithmic recommendation systems in accelerating radicalisation pathways [1]. Authorities therefore consider online platform dynamics a critical factor in preventing future youth‑led attacks [1].

Jihadist Threats Dominate PNAT Activity In 2025 jihadist terrorism accounted for 87 % of PNAT’s cases, marking the highest number of opened investigations in the past five years and indicating a sustained high‑tension environment [1]. This dominance reflects the broader strategic focus of extremist networks on jihadist ideology within France [1]. The data underscores the priority given to counter‑jihadist operations by French security services [1].