A former politician who called for the overthrow of the French government has been charged with terrorism over a far-right plot to attack vaccination centres.

Other targets included a masonic lodge, according to the authorities.

Rémy Daillet-Wiedemann was already accused of masterminding the kidnapping of an eight-year-old girl taken from her grandmother’s home in April.

Carried out on behalf of the child’s mother who had lost custody, it was found to involve a network of extreme-right supporters who authorities had placed under surveillance.

The girl was eventually recovered safely in Switzerland and French police put out an international arrest warrant for Daillet-Wiedemann, who was living with his family in Malaysia.

He was forced back to France and arrested when Malaysian authorities deported him for over-staying his visa in June.

He was jailed in eastern France in that case.

Is France doing enough to stop migrant crossings in the English Channel?

Three migrants lying on tracks killed after being hit by train in France

Migrant crossings: £54m promised to France to help tackle issue to be sent ‘in the coming weeks’

The new allegations have since emerged and involve many in the same extremist circle.

Daillet-Wiedemann’s lawyer, Jean-Christophe Basson-Larbi, described his client as a political prisoner.

He said Daillet- Wiedemann called only for the peaceful end to the political system and retained his faith in French justice despite the charges against him.

In the 2000s, Daillet-Wiedemann was a local politician in southwestern France who stood with the centrist Democratic Movement.

He was reportedly later banned from the party, before becoming more far-right.

He gained followers with videos calling for a “popular coup d’état”, saying face masks are “scientifically useless” and calling for the destruction of 5G networks.

He has vowed to run for president in France’s upcoming elections.

Related posts:

‘I can’t shoot my people’: Myanmar police officers flee to India after defying military orders Bitcoin’s record-breaking surge means one man ended up paying £440m for two pizzas Why it’s no bad thing that Biden-Putin summit was a little dull Eriksen to be fitted with under-skin ‘heart starter’ after going into cardiac arrest during Euro 2020 match Eriksen tribute: Minute’s applause as players hug during pause in Denmark match Cattle replaced by fish as South Sudan reels from two years of devastating floods Germany accused of hypocrisy over Arctic gas project after climate crisis blamed for deadly floods Virtual cheers and piped-in noise: Five ways fans will be involved in Tokyo 2020 Raging wildfires across Siberia prompt smoke warning Several feared dead after blast at mosque in Afghanistan Man who was 13 when he killed a four-year-old boy granted parole after decades behind bars Users report outage on social media apps and internet services including Snapchat and Spotify