The French authorities have initiated an investigation against the Franco-Swiss cement group LafargeHolcim on suspicion of financing terrorist activities in Syria, Reuters reports on Tuesday with the reference to informed sources.
According to them, three investigators are conducting the case, one of whom is an expert on combating terrorism, and the two other specialize in financial crimes. An official representative of LafargeHolcim, the world's largest company in production of cement and construction materials, declined to comment on these reports, the agency noted.
In January, LafargeHolcim came under the spotlight after Le Monde reported that the company had transferred funds to terrorist groups, including Islamic State" (IS, banned in Russia). According to the newspaper, a subsidiary of the French company in Syria came into contact with militants in 2013-2014 to ensure the operation of its plant for the production of cement in the northeastern Syria.
