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Doha – French authorities have arrested two Algerian social media influencers on Friday, for allegedly making terrorist threats and inciting violence through TikTok videos.
The second arrest came just hours after the first one, as announced by French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Imad Tintin, who operates under the username “Bledar de luxe” and has 70,900 TikTok followers, was taken into custody around 7:30 p.m. in Échirolles, near Grenoble.
According to Grenoble prosecutor Eric Vaillant, he faces charges of “death threats materialized through writing, images or other objects, committed due to race, ethnicity, nation or religion.”
The arrest came after a TikTok video, which garnered over 858,000 views, showed Tintin allegedly calling for violence against opponents of the Algerian regime in France.
“If you move, we will burn you… We will finish you off in France. No one will be able to defend you in France. If I find you, I will finish you,” Tintin reportedly said in the video, which has since been removed.
Earlier that day, authorities arrested Youcef Aziria, known as “Zazou Youcef,” in Brest, Finisterre.
Aziria, who had 400,000 TikTok followers before his account was banned, is charged with apologizing for terrorism and inciting hatred and violence.
Born in Mostaganem, northwestern Algeria, Aziria arrived in France in 2020 and received a residence permit valid until March 14, 2024.
Chawki Benzehra, an Algerian political activist with asylum status in France, brought attention to both cases through his X account.
Read also: Former Algerian Officer Calls For Terrorist Attacks on Moroccan Cities
Benzehra claims Tintin, reportedly a former Algerian military member in irregular status in France, directly threatened him, stating, “He cited me several times (Chawki from Lyon), promising to come find me in Lyon.”
“A terror campaign is being launched on French territory by people supporting and claiming to be close to the Algerian regime,” Benzehra warned on his social media account.
Aziria has a previous criminal record in France. During the June 2023 urban riots, he was convicted of vandalizing a sports complex in Brest and sentenced to 12 months in prison, though he appealed the conviction.
He is currently subject to an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF) issued in April 2024.
Minister Retailleau emphasized the government’s firm stance on these incidents with his repeated statement “Ne rien laisser passer” (“Let nothing slide”), suggesting France would not yield to threats of destabilization amid diplomatic tensions following France’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara.
