TERRORISM INVESTIGATING JUDGE COMMENTS ON ONGOING

S E C R E T PARIS 007528

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR PTER FR
SUBJECT: TERRORISM INVESTIGATING JUDGE COMMENTS ON ONGOING
C/T ACTIVITIES

REF: PARIS 3989

Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR JOSIAH ROSENBLATT, FOR REAS
ONS 1.4 B/D


1. (S) Summary: Terrorism investigating judge Jean-Francois
Ricard (strictly protect) discussed his office's ongoing C/T
activities November 3, including the possible upcoming
release of two ex-GTMO detainees and the continued
investigation of three separate terrorist cells discovered in

2005. The discovery of these cells is the reason for
Interior Minister Sarkozy and PM Villepin's recent public
warnings regarding terrorist threats to France. Ricard also
analyzed the current unrest in Paris suburbs, saying no one
in the GOF should be surprised by what is happening (septel).
End summary.

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POSSIBLE RELEASE OF 2 EX-GTMO DETAINEES
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2. (S) The investigating judges assigned to the ex-GTMO
detainee case (Ricard and Bruguiere) have come to the
conclusion that most, if not all, are not "big fish," said
Ricard. He still believes he has enough to bring some to
trial. However, he is close to recommending the release of 2
ex-GTMO detainees, Nizar Sassi and Mourad Benchellali, due to
lack of sufficient evidence. (Note: Reftel describes their
situation in greater detail. Sassi and Benchellali were
captured in Afghanistan and were part of the first group
returned to France. Their lawyers filed a civil suit in
French courts over what they described as their illegal
arrest and imprisonment in GTMO. End note) If Sassi and
Benchellali are released, 3 ex-GTMO detainees will remain in
pre-trial detention. Ricard plans on finishing the case and
going to trial sometime in 2006. Although he said a final
decision has not been made regarding Sassi and Benchellali's
release, he believes it may occur by the end of the month.

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DISCOVERY IN 2005 OF THREE TERRORIST CELLS CAUSES HIGH-LEVEL
GOF CONCERN
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3. (S) Ricard said it appears that three separate terrorist
groups have been discovered in 2005, although French
authorities do not believe they have found everybody
belonging to these groups. They include the GSPC-linked
group led by Safe Bourada (who was arrested in September),an
Algerian-linked group about which very little is known, and a
Montpellier-based group linked to Iraq, although little is
known of this group as well. Ricard said Interior Minister
Sarkozy is intimately aware of and involved in the conduct of
these ongoing investigations. The three groups are the cause
of high-level concern because all three appear to be
independent, and clearly have targeted France. All appear to
have links, whether important or incidental, with Syria,
Egypt, and/or Iraq. Against this backdrop, Sarkozy and
Villepin have increased their public warnings regarding
potential terrorist threats, said Ricard. He added that the
GOF has not uncovered any imminent plots, but the simple fact
that possibly three independent groups have been discovered
in France in 2005 is worrying enough.
Please visit Paris' Classified Website at:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm
Stapleton