France probes 'fake' bank robbery

France has launched a judicial investigation after a cash machine technician was accused of faking a robbery to help fund a terror network.

Hassan Baouchi, 23, a former employee with Brink's security company, was arrested on Thursday.

He claimed he had been robbed of one million euros which should have been used to refill cash machines. The French authorities suspect the cash went to fund activities by a group blamed for attacks in Morocco in 2003.

Mr Baouchi has been placed under judicial investigation for "criminal association relating to a terrorist enterprise" by a top anti-terror judge, Jean-Francois Ricard.

An interior ministry spokesman told Reuters news agency: "Hassan Baouchi organised his own kidnapping and the theft of the money for the cash machines.

"The stolen money was destined to finance the activity of terrorist activities in France and abroad."

Although Hassan Baouchi's original story of the robbery was not believed when he reported it, police had no evidence on which to detain him.

The French authorities believe Hassan Baouchi and his brother Mustapha are linked to the Moroccan Islamic Fighting Group, blamed for bombings in Casablanca last year that killed 45 people.