France targets radical Muslim recruiters

PARIS, July 25 (UPI) -- France has declared a new policy of tracking down and prosecuting Muslim radicals in the wake of terrorist bombings in London.

Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy said the decision was made based on the opinions of the country's anti-terrorist police and judges, who have said the country faces a serious threat from "jihadists," The Times of London reported.

"We have decided to put into effect a wide-scale operation for the early screening of the elements of radicalization," Sarkozy said. "When you see the age of the young suicide bombers of London, you see the responsibility of the radical preachers on weak minds and I have no intention of tolerating it."

France is home to some 4 million Muslims, many from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, and state officials maintain hundreds have been trained abroad in guerrilla tactics to fight in Afghanistan, Chechnya and Iraq.