Growing fears for French teens en route to fight jihad in Syria

France 24

French Interior Minister Manuel Valls. AFP Photo

French Interior Minister Manuel Valls said on Jan. 19 that around a dozen French minors were either in transit or had arrived in Syria to fight alongside Islamist militants in the war-torn country.

The departure of young French men intent on waging Jihad in Syria has become a worrying trend. Last week media reported that two 15-year-olds from the southwestern city of Toulouse had left to enlist in a militia.

“The two teens may not have reached Syria yet. They may be in Turkey. We are working closely with their families to bring them back,” Valls told Europe 1 radio.

“This trend has grown during the last few weeks, since the end of 2013,” the minister added.

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