Baur and Merabet Cell (Jihadi Entity, France)

• Local Name: N/a
• Transliteration: N/a
• Alternatives: N/a
• Status: 2016 – 2017 (Defeated)
• Conflicts: Islamist Militancy in France

The Baur and Merabet Cell [BMC] was a short-lived jihadi attack module based in France that was loyal to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [DaIISh; Dawlat al-Islamiya fi-Iraq wal ash-Sham]. It consisted of French convert to Islam Clément Baur from Nice and Mahiedine Merabet from the northern town of Roubaix. The two men had met each other while sharing a prison cell in early 2015.¹ Baur had earlier developed connections to Belgian-based Chechen Islamists and had come into contact with associates of the Khalid Zerkani Network [KZN], including future DaIISh attack coordinator Abdelhamid Abaaoud.² In 2015 and 2016, he had stayed in Germany where Baur was involved in an aborted plot to allegedly bomb a Berlin shopping center. He had furthermore acquainted with Anis Amri who would go on to kill twelve people by plunging a hijacked truck into a Christmas Market in the German capital city in December 2016.³

Baur was sheltered by Merabet in Roubaix following his return from Germany in October 2016.⁴ Police searched Merabet’s home in December 2016, forcing Baur and his companion to briefly part ways before reconnecting in Nancy a few months later.⁵ In the spring of 2017, the two men traveled to Marseille where they reportedly planned to attack a rally of nationalist presidential election candidate Marine Le Pen, polling stations and several cafés frequented by American, Israeli and Russian visitors.⁶ They had acquired explosives, several firearms and ammunition. The duo made a video statement in which they pledged allegiance to the DaIISh.⁷ Intelligence services intercepted the recording as Merabet tried to send it to members of the organization.⁸

Police launched a manhunt for Baur and Merabet but could not easily locate them as they had taken considerable measures to avoid detection.⁹ On Apr. 18, 2017, security forces caught up with Baur and his companion and arrested both during a raid on their hideout in Marseille.¹⁰ Police also seized their bomb-making materials and weapons.¹¹ At least six associates of Baur and Merabet were apprehended in the following days in Marseille and Nancy.¹² In June 2017, another man was arrested in connection with the cell in Nancy.¹³ Two other associates were taken into custody by police in Clermont-Ferrand and Marseille on Nov. 07, 2017.¹⁴ These nine individuals, mostly Chechens and Serbs from Kosovo, were charged with providing logistical support and delivering weapons and ammunition to Baur and Merabet.¹⁵