French naval officer allegedly helped brother get to Syria

PARIS, June 22 (UPI) -- Investigators say a young French naval officer may have helped his brother get to Syria to fight with forces supporting President Bashar Assad.

The 23-year-old officer, who was based in the Mediterranean port of Toulon, and two other men were charged Friday with aiding terrorism, Radio France Internationale reported. The other men allegedly have ties to terrorist groups in the Paris suburb of Torcy and Cannes.

The French government stepped up investigations into potential terrorist groups after a Jewish grocery store in Paris was attacked with a grenade last September. At least 11 other men have been arrested since then.

The three charged Friday were detained for questioning on Monday.