A French court sentenced six men from a neo-Nazi ultraright milieu to prison terms of up to seven years in a case involving weapons trafficking and alleged plans for violent attacks.
Five defendants, aged between 22 and 25, were convicted of terrorist criminal association, while a sixth man, a 61-year-old retired police officer, was convicted only of weapons trafficking, according to reports citing France Info. The case was heard in Paris and involved two former soldiers.
The heaviest sentence, seven years in prison with a two-thirds security period, was handed to the youngest defendant.
France Info reported that he was born to a Japanese mother and a Moroccan father, a detail that drew attention because he reaffirmed during the trial his rejection of racial mixing while saying he had abandoned some far-right views and kept others. His lawyer said she would appeal.
Investigators suspected members of the group of preparing attacks against several targets, including Muslims, Jews, LGBTQ+ people and left-wing activists, Anadolu reported, citing French media.
Another defendant, described as a central figure in the arms trafficking, also received seven years. The retired police officer was sentenced to five years, including 25 months suspended, with the custodial part to be served under electronic monitoring.
The case comes as French authorities continue to track violent ultraright networks accused of targeting religious, ethnic and political minorities.
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