France has closed down a kindergarten and creche that Interior Minister Mr Nicolas Sarkozy said today had been run by Islamist militants.
Mr Sarkozy told the National Assembly French authorities had arrested 101 suspected Muslim militants this year, 42 of whom were still in prison, and had closed down two unregistered childcare centres "of salafist inspiration" in Paris suburbs last week.
"Salafist" - from an Arabic word for the companions of the Prophet Mohammad - is a term some Islamist militants use to describe their movement.
"The vigilance the government must show to defend French security has many aspects -- last week, a prefect had to close down two illegal school facilities of salafist inspiration, a kindergarten and a creche," Mr Sarkozy said.
The daily Le Figaro reported last month that police had identified the two centres early last summer.
It quoted the local prefect, Mr Michel Delpuech, as saying the two centres were part of a social welfare network that Islamist groups had set up, ostensibly to help Muslim families.
"But behind this facade, one can detect some proselytism, some press-ganging, some seclusion," Mr Sarkozy said. "These radical groups take care of everything, including the children."
