French cement firm execs face probe over 'financing Islamic State'
Two former executives at giant French cement manufacturers Lafarge and the head of its security – a former election candidate for Marine Le Pen's far-right Front National – have been formally placed under investigation for alleged “financing of terrorism”. It follows an investigation by French prosecutors into links between the French group – now merged with a Swiss firm – and jihadist groups such as Islamic State. In 2013 and 2014 the cement group maintained its activities in zones in Syria which were at the time controlled by IS and other armed factions. Fabrice Arfi, Michel Deléan and Julien Antoine report.
TwoTwo former executives at giant French cement group Lafarge and the head of its security have been placed under investigation in connection with a French investigation into the activities of its cement plant at Jalabiya in Syria. They were questioned in custody by officers from French customs who are conducting the probe and then on Friday December 1st, 2017, they were brought before a judge to be formally put under investigation, which under French law is one step short of charges being brought.
