The French authorities have launched inspections of dozens of mosques and prayer halls suspected of links to Islamist extremism.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced the crackdown, saying some could be closed if found to be encouraging “separatism”.
It comes a week before the unveiling of a new law to combat such extremism.
It is a response to attacks in October, blamed on Islamists, including the beheading of teacher Samuel Paty.
In a note to regional security chiefs, reported by French media, Mr Darmanin said there would be special checks and surveillance for 76 mosques and prayer halls, 16 of them in the Paris region.
He ordered “immediate action” concerning 18 of them, with the first checks set to be done on Thursday.
France launches checks on dozens of mosques suspected to have links to Islamist extremism https://t.co/cNl70ga13l
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) December 3, 2020