Considérations sur la « Bataille de Toulouse »

Abstract

The killings perpetrated and claimed by Mohamed Merah in March 2012 echoed throughout the jihadist movement. Al Qaeda has even created “feedback” on these killings by publishing a document entitled “Lessons and Treasures of the Battle of Toulouse” which was widely circulated on the internet in the weeks following the death of Merah. This article first proposes a translation from Arabic of the main excerpts in this informative document and then, second, a perspective of the strategic and tactical elements that are included in it on lone terrorism in urban environment. Finally, an analysis is provided of the new dynamics of Islamism and homeland security in France after the “Merah case”.