ASSESSMENTS

In France, New Attacks Come From Old Problems

Nov 22, 2015 | 14:01 GMT

France's Responses to the Paris Attacks
The Eiffel Tower is illuminated in red, white and blue on Nov. 20 in honor of the victims of the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris.

(PASCAL LE SEGRETAIN/Getty Images)

On the evening of Friday, Nov. 13, eight people armed with assault rifles and suicide vests attacked several targets in Paris, killing 129 civilians. At least five of the attackers were French nationals and two were Belgians; all eight appear to have been radical Islamists, and the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks. French President Francois Hollande declared the killings to be an act of war and immediately scaled up France's military operations, primarily by increasing its airstrikes in Islamic State territory. Taking advantage of a temporary state of emergency, French police have conducted more than 100 raids each night since the attack as they track down suspects. However, France must solve the problems stemming from its poor, disaffected, mainly Muslim communities if it is to prevent homegrown terrorist attacks....

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