Police in western France have arrested a 13-year-old boy they believe is responsible for hundreds of bomb threats that have plagued France since the fall. The Rennes Public Prosecutor's Office announced that an investigation had been launched against the student on Thursday. The student would be held responsible for bomb threats across France, especially against airports, courts and universities. The student admitted that he acted as a “joke” and without any political or religious intention.
Although the boy sent his threats through a foreign network connection, investigators tracked him down. Initially, the entire family was taken into police custody. The parents and a brother were released because they had nothing to do with the matter.
Frequent bomb threats had serious consequences in France in the autumn, without authorities initially being able to classify the threats. They began after the deadly terrorist attack carried out by an Islamist against a teacher in northern France and the start of the war in Gaza. No specific threats or political connections were identified. In many cases, young people were identified as responsible. According to police, videos of school evictions have been viewed millions of times on social media. The threats sometimes paralyzed airports for days at a time, and the Palace of Versailles tourist attraction was also affected more frequently.
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The student now detained is accused of making at least 380 bomb threats, as reported by the newspaper “Le Parisien”. Prosecutor Philippe Astruc said that the threats that have already been credibly attributed to the student, for example against the Rennes train station and two offices of the regional newspaper “Ouest France”, occurred between December 28 and January 10. A one-year educational measure has already been imposed on the student, who has a severe personality disorder.