France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor has opened an investigation into the Corsican separatist movement FLNC, after the group made threats against people without Corsican backgrounds on the island.
The Parquet national antiterroriste (PNAT), France’s national anti-terrorism prosecution office, has begun a probe into the FLNC. DR reports the step, citing the French newspaper Le Monde. It follows threats aimed at non-Corsicans who live on or are staying on the Mediterranean island.
The threats were made at a clandestine press conference, filmed and published Wednesday by the local outlet Corse-Matin. In the video, masked and armed people appear in front of an FLNC banner. A masked speaker with an altered voice reads out a five-page statement.
According to Corse-Matin, the speaker warned non-Corsican citizens with phrasing telling them not to consider themselves safe on the group’s territory. The French daily L’Indépendant reports that PNAT is investigating suspected criminal conspiracy to prepare terrorist acts. It adds that the case also covers the acquisition, possession and transport of category A and B weapons and ammunition in connection with a terrorist enterprise.
PNAT confirmed the details to AFP, as reported by L’Indépendant. RFI notes that the case is a preliminary inquiry, so no terrorism charges have been filed. DR reports that the involvement of the national anti-terror prosecutor means authorities view the threats as potentially serious enough for a national investigation.
Criticism of the autonomy plan
The statement comes after Corsica’s regional authorities adopted a proposal for increased autonomy within France on June 23. Since then, the plan has caused intense political discussion between the French government in Paris and local politicians on the island. In the video shared by Corse-Matin, the FLNC calls the proposal a masquerade.
According to the group, the plan would maintain French sovereignty rather than deliver real self-determination for Corsica. The island has been part of France since 1769 and is subject to French law. It has its own elected assembly in the main city of Ajaccio.
The FLNC is a 50-year-old Corsican separatist movement. DR reports that it has previously carried out larger coordinated attacks, including the so-called nuit bleue in October 2023, when a series of explosions hit targets across Corsica, mainly holiday homes and some public buildings.
The group has also held masked and armed secret press conferences before, most recently in January 2024. On that occasion, the FLNC claimed responsibility for the attacks, and PNAT investigated the case as well. French media describe the organization involved in the current inquiry as the FLNC-UC, the Union des combattants branch of Corsican nationalism.
