Macron to deport migrant shoplifters

ILLEGAL immigrants caught committing even minor crimes in France such as shoplifting are to be deported.

President Emmanuel Macron said tougher measures were needed to fight lawlessness, and especially terrorism.

It follows revelations that a Tunisian man linked to Islamic State who stabbed two women to death in Marseille on October 1 had been arrested for stealing from a shop two days earlier but was then released. Ahmed Hanachi, 29, had no right to residency when he was held in Lyon and had used seven aliases to travel around France and neighbouring countries.

He was meant to be held in custody after his arrest, but no magistrate was available to process him and the secure centre for immigrants was full. This allowed Hanachi to take a train to Marseille, where he murdered cousins Laura Paumier, 21, and Mauranne Harel, 20, before being shot dead.

Mr Macron said: ‘We are not taking all the steps that should be taken. Well that’s going to change.’ France is under a state of emergency following a series of attacks by IS and Al Qaeda.