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Cement group faces terrorism funding charge

Adam Sage, Paris

The Times

Lafarge admitted that its employees had paid protection money to jihadist groups in order to continue operating a plant in Syria
Lafarge admitted that its employees had paid protection money to jihadist groups in order to continue operating a plant in SyriaDELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Lafarge, the French cement group, was yesterday charged with crimes against humanity for funding Islamic State in Syria.

The company was informed by magistrates that it had been placed under formal investigation for financing a terrorist enterprise, endangering life and aiding and abetting crimes against humanity. This is the equivalent of charging a suspect in the UK.

Lawyers said that no company in the world had ever been charged with crimes against humanity before.

The charge sheet shocked commentators in France, where Lafarge is a household name. A spokeswoman for the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights, which with Sherpa, the French anti-corruption association, prompted the inquiry by filing a lawsuit against Lafarge, said the company could be dissolved if found guilty.

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