The growing involvement of European citizens in jihadist groups is a reason for concern here, where authorities estimate that some 3,000 Europeans, mostly French citizens, have enrolled in Islamic fundamentalist groups. According to statistics from the Ministry of the Interior, some 1,000 French citizens or residents in France are linked to extremist groups that operate in Syria or Iraq. The issue became relevant a few months ago, when four journalists who were held hostages by the so-called Islamic State (IS) for nearly a year revealed that some of their captors spoke with a French accent. Shortly afterwards it was learned that the executioner of US journalist James Foley is of British origin. Most French citizens involved in the jihad join the groups voluntarily after being recruited by cells that operate in the country, and many of them are recruited on the Internet