Recognizing the signs of violent radicalization

Taken separately, none of the changes in behaviour or physical appearance, dress or diet necessarily means that that there is a radicalization in progress.

This is why it is essential to discuss with professionals who will know how to make the connection between the observed behaviours and alert on the points of attention and evolution to be monitored. 

Some characteristics and signs may however alert you:

• People often have similar personal stories: dysfunctional family, academic or professional failure, bad relationships, history of delinquency…. By taking an interest in radical discourse, they often hope to find a place in their new community and a form of ‘healing’, in exchange for their commitment. However, socially inserted people can also fall into radicalization.
• Rupture with the daily environment in one of the key signs of the radicalization process. The person changes his habits more or less brutally, turns in on himself, stops seeing his friends, his co-workers, even his family to devote himself to an exclusive relationship with a new group. He/she may become aggressive or hostile to his former relationships.
• This person will often relay a victimizing or even conspiratorial discourse that justifies the violence and seeks to convince others that he/she is right. Special attention should be paid to violent or threatening speeches, especially those directed against other religious, political, philosophical or ethnic groups.
• The regular changes of phone chips, the closing then and subsequent reopening of social media accounts under new identities, the compulsive browsing of radical sites should also alert.

Reporting a radicalized person:

• Call 0 800 00 56 96  

The team of the National Centre for Radicalization Assistance and Prevention is available from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m to 6 p.m. An English speaking person can help:

• Collecting the reports 
• Listen, give advice and provide psychological support (the platform has a dedicated psychologist)
• If the situation so requires, the platform can also trigger an emergency procedures in connection with operational services to prevent a terrorist act or a departure for the Syrian-Iraqi area. 
• Using the online form: outside of opening days and hours, you can send a message to contact the platform on a non-urgent basis and describe the situation you wish to report. You will be systematically be contacted as soon as possible.

In case of emergency:  17 / 112
 
Contact without delay the police station or Gendarmerie brigade by dialling 17 or 112 and they will forward your call to the nearest structure.