France’s first official anti-radicalization centre to open

PARIS – The veil has been lifted on what is billed as France’s first centre to prevent those on the road to radicalization from becoming extremists.

Officials said Tuesday that the centre in a small town in western France would take in a half-dozen volunteers without a judicial history by month’s end. The centre is to be the model for others and will hold a maximum of 25 people, aged between 18 and 30, who will stay in the converted domain for up to 10 months.

Some townsfolk in Beaumont-en-Veron, 340 kilometres (210 miles) from Paris, have protested the newcomers’ arrival, fearing a security risk.

Numerous private efforts to de-radicalize youth in day centres or homes exist, but this is the first official centre.

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