France: 9 Extremists Detained
09 March 2004

French authorities say nine suspected far-right extremists have been detained for questioning in connection with a series of three small bomb attacks targeting the country's only Muslim prefect.

Police said Tuesday that three of the suspects were taken into custody in Paris, and the other six in the Nantes area of western France.

Over the course of 10 days in January, small bombs exploded in the business, car and mailbox of Aissa Dermouche. He was not hurt.

Mr. Dermouche is an Algerian-born Frenchman who was appointed earlier that month to become the prefect of the eastern Jura region.

French President Jacques Chirac expressed outrage at the bombings.