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On Monday, France urged French citizens living in or travelling to certain countries to exercise “utmost caution” after extremist group Islamic State (IS) called on Muslims all over the world to kill citizens of countries whose government are a part of the coalition against the group.
The French Foreign Ministry said sent a warning to its embassies “in around 30 countries” in the Middle East and Africa.
Earlier in the day, France sought to reassure French nationals that it was ready to intercept attacks on home soil.
In a televised statement responding to IS remarks, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said that “France is not afraid” and is “prepared to respond to their threat”; he also added that French security forces were “fully mobilized”.
“This is not the first time France has been threatened by terrorist groups who attack the values of tolerance … respect for human rights and democracy, which France has upheld through its secular history”, he said.
On Friday, France had joined the US in conducting air strikes against IS extremists in Syria and Iraq.
“If you can kill a disbelieving American or European — especially the spiteful and filthy French — or an Australian, or a Canadian or any other disbeliever… including the citizens of the countries that entered into a coalition against the Islamic State, then rely upon Allah, and kill him”, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, spokesman for the IS, had said.
Further, in a message on the internet posted in several languages, he gave tips on how to kill them without military equipment.
“Smash his head with a rock, or slaughter him with a knife, or run him over with your car, or throw him down from a high place, or choke him, or poison him. If you are unable to do so, then burn his home, car, or business. Or destroy his crops. If you are unable to do so, then spit in his face”, the message read.
