Beheading probe targets Islamist links to attacker

PARIS — France’s interior minister said Monday that police raids were under way targeting dozens of people who allegedly issued messages of support for the attacker after the beheading of a history teacher near Paris.

Gerald Darmanin said on French radio Europe 1 that at least 80 cases of hate speech have been reported since Friday’s attack.

Samuel Paty was beheaded in Conflans-Sainte Honorine, northwest of Paris, by an 18yearold Moscow born Chechen refugee, who was later shot dead by police. Police officials said Paty had discussed caricatures of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad with his class, leading to threats.

French President Emmanuel Macron held a defense council on Sunday at the Elysee presidential palace. The government will reinforce security at schools when classes resume on Nov. 2 after two weeks of holidays, Macron’s office said.

Macron met with Paty’s family on Monday. He was also meeting with members of France’s leading Muslim organization, the French Muslim Council.

A national homage is to be held for Paty on Wednesday.

Players, coaches and referees at soccer matches this weekend will wear a black armband in a tribute to Paty. The French league said in a statement Monday that a minute of silence will be observed before kickoff at all professional matches.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered on Sunday across France in support of freedom of speech and in memory of the slain 47yearold teacher.

French authorities said they detained 11 people following the killing. Darmanin said they include the father of a student and an Islamist activist who both “obviously launched a fatwa,” or religious ruling, against the teacher.

Darmanin said authorities were also looking into about 50 associations suspected of encouraging hate speech. Some will be dissolved, he said.

Antiterrorism prosecutor Jean Francois Ricard said a text claiming responsibility and a photograph of the victim were found on the attacker’s phone.