Drama yesterday, Wednesday November 5, 2025 on the island of Oléron. The suspect was intercepted and taken into custody. However, having been heard shouting “ Allahu Akbar! » the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office has not taken up the matter “ at this stage “. But how is the PNAT entered?

What is its role? In fact, the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) is the body responsible for handling, on a national scale, the most serious cases relating to terrorism. He took office on July 1, 2019. The PNAT is headed by an anti-terrorism public prosecutorwith a team of magistrates and specialized civil servants. It works in coordination with territorial prosecutors, judicial police and intelligence services (such as the General Directorate of Internal Security, DGSI) for cases with a terrorist dimension.

When can a case be brought before the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office?

Everything therefore begins with the identification of an event which may relate to terrorism. Article 421-1 of the Penal Code provides that terrorism is an offense committed intentionally. He specifies “ with a view to seriously disturbing public order through intimidation or terrorr“.
So, when a local investigation is open (by a territorial prosecutor’s office) or that an intelligence service detects a violent plan or act, the PNAT can be seized.
A file is likely to fall under the PNAT when:

• the offense relates to one of the defined frameworks (e.g.: terrorist criminal association, individual terrorist enterprise).
• the seriousness of the facts or the national/international nature of the case justifies it. (e.g. State target, French national abroad).
• there are also material elements, a mode of operation, or an author who presents a dimension “ terrorist » credible. (ideology, networks, demands).

Also read: Security: the European Union toughens its tone against terrorism

The role of local prosecutors and transmission to the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office

Once it decides to take up the matter, the PNAT therefore assumes leadership of public action. The territorial prosecutor’s office relinquishes responsibility or acts in addition under delegation. The circular of July 1, 2019 recalls that the local prosecutor’s office “ takes hold » with the PNAT in order to assess whether national competence criteria are filled. The mechanism of “ judicial delegation » allows the PNAT to request a local prosecutor’s office to carry out investigative acts within its jurisdiction, while remaining in control of the case. The case thus falls under their specialized competence: preliminary investigation, investigation, judgment before the appropriate courts.

As an illustration, during the attack on the Paris Police Prefecture in October 2019, the PNAT took action after the discovery of telephone exchanges and a modus operandi linked to a terrorist enterprise.

What if the PNAT is not seized?

If the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office considers that the file does not meet its criteria, it refers jurisdiction to the local prosecutor’s office. The local public prosecutor’s office can then initiate the procedure under common law. However, he must notify the PNAT and transmit the useful elements.

In the case of an attack at Lyon station in 2024, the PNAT explained in particular that there was no “ of sole proprietorship with a view to seriously disturbing public order through intimidation or terror » qualifying as terrorism. This shows that referral is not automatic as soon as there is violence: terrorist intent and planned natureOr linked to a network/ideologyremain essential.

We are all struck by the attack in Oléron.

I send all my sympathy to the injured and the affected families. The solidarity of the Nation accompanies them.

Gratitude towards our security and rescue forces…

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) November 6, 2025

Why, in the Oléron Island affair, has the PNAT not (yet) been seized?

This can be explained by several reasons. The suspect was not known to the intelligence services for radicalization, according to Le Monde. The motive for the act was therefore not yet confirmed as terrorist or ideologically linked. Furthermore, the authorities speak “ of a referral ‘at this stage’ not made“. Which suggests that the PNAT or the local prosecutor’s office are waiting for more consolidated elements (network, terrorist intention, organization) before initiating a terrorist qualification.

The Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nuñez, clarified that the PNAT was present “ as an observer » on site. However, the referral decision will depend on the evolution of the investigation (elements of radicalization, motive, network, etc.).