Interior minister says a dozen French minors fighting in Syria

The French interior minister, Manuel Valls, says it’s believed a dozen French minors are travelling to or fighting in Syria. It comes after two teenage boys from Toulouse are said to have gone to join an armed Islamic group.

A rebel fighter in Aleppo during clashes with fighters from the jihadist group Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant on January 7. AFP / Mohammed Wesam

On Friday, the father of one of the two 15-year old boys said his son left France for Turkey on 5 January after being “brainwashed” on the internet.

Speaking on an interview on French television, Valls said authorities are working with the two boys’ families to try and contact their sons.

“The two teenagers are probably not in Syria. They are probably in Turkey. We are working together with the family to bring them back,” he said.

Valls added that a growing number of French citizens have gone to Syria in recent weeks, mostly from neighbouring countries.

“You c an get to Syria relatively easily; this fighting is happening just as all the major powers condemn the actions of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, and because there is no doubt a sense of unease among some of the youth,” he said.

French authorities believe there are around 250 French citizens and French residents fighting in Syria.

Valls said around 100 of them are on their way to Syria and 150 have expressed a desire to go.

Around 76 French are believed to have returned from fighting in Syria, he said, and 25 French citizens have died in the country.