APPREHENDED
- Full name: Djebril Amara
- Pseudonym: N/a
- Alternatives: N/a
- Location: France
- Affiliation: Karioui, Amara and Frèrejean Network [KAFN]
Djebril Amara (°1992) is an Islamist of immigrant descent from the southern French city of Marseille. He grew up not particularly religious and joined the French navy in June 2013.1 Amara was tasked with helping to man the Cap Béar semaphore near Perpginan.2 He adjusted badly to life in the military and quickly became resentful.3 Amara turned to radical Islam, became obsessed with the propaganda put out by Syrian jihadi groups and got in touch with other extremists through online chatrooms in 2014.4 Amara came under the influence of Ismaël Karioui, a teenaged radical from northern France.5 He also developed a relationship with Paris-based Antoine Frèrejean who was in contact with Mourad Farès, a recruiter for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [DaIISh; Dawlat al-Islamiya fi-Iraq wal ash-Sham].6 The men formed a constellation of likeminded individuals that would eventually grow into the informal Karioui, Amara and Frèrejean Network [KAFN].
Amara and his companions initially wanted to travel to Syria and join DaIISh forces.7 These plans were thwarted in November 2014 when the mother of Karioui informed local authorities which in turn banned him from leaving town.8 Karioui convinced his associates to launch an attack in France and Amara suggested to strike at the naval station where he had been based until the army finally dismissed him in January 2015.9 The men developed a plan to storm the base, behead its commanding officer and sent a videotape of the action to the DaIISh.10 Amara planned to die as a martyr in the operation, while his associates wanted to go to Syria afterwards.11 Amara made a few trips to meet with his companions.12
French security services had long been aware of the KAFN members’ radicalization and monitored their activities.13 On Jul. 13, 2015, police arrested Amara and three of his associates during a series of raids across France.14 A French court sentenced him to nine years in prison on Apr. 13, 2018.15
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