France 'not afraid' of IS threats, Interior Minister

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve declared on Monday that France was prepared to respond to threats from the Islamic State, stating “France is not afraid.”

©Reuters.

After the group calling itself Islamic State posted an online call to its supporters to kill citizens from countries involved in the coalition against it, singling out France for particular mention, French Interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve made a televised statement.

Cazeneuve said that security forces were "fully mobilised".

"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 added.

France joined the US on Friday in carrying out air strikes against the IS group which controls large areas of Iraq and Syria, where it has declared a "caliphate".

In its online message on Monday in several languages, the IS spokesman gave tips on how to kill citizens of enemy nations without military equipment.

France is increasingly concerned about the number of citizens travelling to fight in Iraq and Syria who could return to France with intentions to cause harm.

The lower house national assembly last week approved an anti-terrorism bill which will include a travel ban on anyone suspected of planning jihadist activities.

Cazeneuve said the bill would also allow for security services to be "better armed".