Reputed Founder of French Terror Group Jailed in Lyon
Police said Saturday they arrested a man believed to be a founding member of the Direct Action terrorist group that has claimed responsibility for about 70 attacks in the Paris area since 1979.
Andre Olivier, 39, who police say helped found the group seven years ago, and 26-year-old Bernard Blanc were stopped in their car Friday night by a squadron of 50 police near Lyon’s main train station. Police described Blanc as a minor Lyon underworld figure.
Police said that both men were wearing bulletproof vests and that the car was filled with weapons, including an Israeli-made Uzi automatic pistol and several handguns.
Direct Action, which has links to several urban terrorist groups in Europe, particularly West Germany, claimed responsibility for the Jan. 25, 1985, assassination of Gen. Rene Audran, a top adviser to former Defense Minister Charles Hernu.
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