The number of radical individuals in France has gone up 60 percent over the last two years, according to Minister of the Interior Gérard Collomb.
Some 18,550 people are currently registered by authorities as potential radicals, up from 11,400 in 2015, Ouest France reported Friday.
The database keeps track of suspects’ personal information and their alleged relationships with terror groups. Females currently account for 26 percent of cases, while 16 percent are minors.
Collomb recently warned that 271 French radicals have returned to the country after fighting for Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. He said the terror threat remains “very high,” with seven foiled attacks since the start of the year. (RELATED: French Minister Warns Of ‘Very High’ Terror Threat As 271 ISIS Fighters Return)
“The terrorist threat remains very high,” Collomb told Le Journal du Dimanche Aug. 6. “The Champs-Elysees has been targeted twice, and our services have foiled seven attacks attempts since the beginning of the year.”
France has been in a state of emergency for almost two years. President Emmanuel Macron has promised to end it by the end of the 2017 by passing legislation that would turn most of the powers into permanent laws.
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