Arrest made in first French ‘incel’ terror case – media

Prosecutors have reportedly charged an 18-year-old in the country’s first misogyny-related terrorism case

An 18-year-old French man has been charged with terrorism after allegedly planning knife attacks on women, marking France’s first terrorism case linked to the incel movement, media outlets report, citing the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT).

The ‘incel’ movement, short for ‘involuntary celibate’, is an online subculture known for its misogynistic beliefs. It is made up largely of men who express resentment over their lack of romantic or sexual relationships, often blaming women and feminist ideals for their frustrations.

Some adherents have praised or committed acts of violence, typically targeting women they perceive as attractive or sexually active. The authorities in several countries have linked the ideology to a growing number of violent incidents.

The PNAT confirmed on Tuesday that an investigation has been opened against the 18-year-old, who self-identifies with the incel movement, according to reports. He has been charged with terrorist criminal conspiracy with intent to commit one or more violent crimes and has been remanded in custody.

The suspect, identified as Timothy G., was arrested on Friday near a high school in the Saint-Etienne region carrying two knives in his bag. Sources close to the case told AFP that he intended to target women and openly identified with incel ideology. 

The case is being handled by anti-terrorism prosecutors, which suggests that the authorities are treating this type of gender-based violence as a potential act of terrorism.

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This is the first time the PNAT has led a case focused solely on the incel movement. The ideology previously surfaced on the margins of two other terrorism-related investigations in France, according to RFI radio.

One involved a man from northern France who was charged in 2023 for planning violence. He was described by sources as “an unstable, frustrated young adult rather than an ideologue.” Another case involved four young men – two of whom praised Hitler and Nazism, while one planned to travel to Syria. Three also communicated with a woman who reportedly wanted to bomb a church.

Some of the individuals involved in these investigations expressed admiration for proponents of the ‘Great Replacement’ theory and mass attackers such as Anders Breivik, Brenton Tarrant, and Dylan Klebold. According to investigators, Timothy G. also expressed interest in some of these cases.

The growing influence of toxic online communities on young men has drawn wider attention in France. The Netflix documentary series ‘Adolescence’, which aired this spring to critical acclaim, examined the impact of misogynistic content circulating on the internet. One of the central figures among these communities is online influencer Andrew Tate, who has nearly 11 million followers on X and faces rape charges.