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France arrests woman linked to Bataclan attacker as jihadist threat persists
French authorities have detained a 27-year-old woman suspected of plotting a violent attack, reigniting concerns over persistent jihadist threats as the nation marks the 10th anniversary of the 2015 Bataclan massacres. Maëva B, a French convert to Islam, allegedly maintained contact with Salah Abdeslam-the sole surviving jihadist from the 2015 Paris attacks-while he served a life sentence near the Belgian border.
Prison correspondence sparks investigation
Investigators discovered that Abdeslam, convicted in 2022, had used a USB drive containing jihadist propaganda during prison visits with Maëva B. Further scrutiny of her electronic devices revealed potential evidence of attack planning, leading to her judicial investigation alongside two alleged accomplices on Monday.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed six thwarted plots this year, underscoring France's enduring high-alert status. The arrest coincides with national commemorations of the deadliest attack in modern French history.
The 2015 Bataclan attacks: A decade of trauma
On 13 November 2015, coordinated jihadist assaults rocked Paris. Gunmen and suicide bombers struck the Stade de France, cafés, and the Bataclan concert hall, where 90 of the 130 victims died during an Eagles of Death Metal performance. Over 400 were injured, and survivors continue to grapple with psychological scars.
The attacks, orchestrated by young men radicalized in Belgium and France and trained in IS-held territories, exposed vulnerabilities in European security. A decade later, the Bataclan remains synonymous with Islamist terror, akin to 9/11 in the U.S.
Evolving threats and homegrown radicalization
While IS's territorial defeat has reduced large-scale attack capabilities, experts warn of a shift toward "ambient jihadism." Gilles Kepel, a Middle East scholar, told Le Figaro that modern threats stem from decentralized networks fueled by social media and peer influence, rather than hierarchical command structures.
The danger now comes from homegrown radicals, often younger and less sophisticated, who exploit events like Gaza to stoke anger. Political instability in France further amplifies risks, as societal fractures weaken national cohesion.
Gilles Kepel, Middle East expert
Commemorations and controversial calls for justice
Thursday's memorials include ceremonies at attack sites and the inauguration of a 13 November garden near City Hall. The Eiffel Tower will illuminate in tricolor as survivors share their stories in media retrospectives.
In a divisive move, Abdeslam's lawyer announced his willingness to participate in "restorative justice" dialogues with victims. Critics, including Charlie Hebdo survivor Laurent Sourisseau (Riss), condemned the offer as manipulative, arguing terrorism cannot be equated with common crimes.
Abdeslam wants to normalize his actions. But terrorism is not a common crime-it's an attack on our society's foundations.
Laurent Sourisseau (Riss), cartoonist and attack survivor
Ongoing vigilance amid political turmoil
As France navigates political fragmentation, Kepel warns that deepening divisions could embolden extremists. With far-left and far-right factions gaining influence, the risk of unchecked violence looms larger than ever.
The anniversary serves as a stark reminder: while IS's physical caliphate has fallen, its ideological legacy-and the threat of lone-wolf attacks-persists.
