A Paris court sentenced six members of the far-right group Action des forces opérationnelles (AFO) on Tuesday to two years in prison after they were tried on charges of planning terrorist attacks against Muslims in France, France Info reported.
The men, aged 39 to 76, were convicted of conspiracy to commit terrorism after they had made preparations during secret meetings “for confrontation with the Muslim community.” The court ordered them to serve their sentences under electronic monitoring.
Among those jailed is Guy Sibra, 72, identified as the founder of AFO. Also sentenced were Bernard Sorel, 76, head of the group’s Paris region cell, and Daniel Raimbault, 39, a former soldier recruited for his explosives expertise.
“You fell into the trap of terrorism by responding to terror with terror,” the presiding judge told the defendants.
Six other members received lighter sentences, including a one-year prison term and suspended sentences. Three women were among them. Four other defendants were acquitted of conspiracy to commit terrorism, though three face fines for illegal weapons possession.
The trial took place three months ago and unfolded as France experienced a surge in Islamophobic violence.
From January to May 2025, anti-Muslim incidents increased 75% over the same period in 2024, according to the Interior Ministry. Attacks against individuals in those five months rose 209%, jumping from 32 to 99 cases.
The AFO network, dismantled in 2018, stockpiled weapons and discussed targeting mosques and Muslim leaders. Members described their plans as “reprisal operations” in case of Islamist attacks.
