Masked gunmen from the Corsican National Liberation Front-Union of Combatants (FLNC-UC) have released a video warning tourists and second-home owners to "stay at home" in the popular Mediterranean holiday destination. French anti-terror prosecutors have reportedly opened a preliminary investigation following the video's emergence.
Chilling Message to Newcomers
Approximately a dozen armed and hooded members of the separatist group appeared in the footage released on Thursday, with machine guns clearly visible. The group, which campaigns for Corsican independence from France, specifically targeted its warning at newcomers to the island and second-home purchasers.
A man, thought to be the group's leader, declared: "Until our national rights are recognised and respected, we have only one message for them: stay at home." The FLNC-UC further stated that those purchasing second homes in Corsica "shouldn't feel safe" and characterised the influx of people as "rampant settlement-driven colonisation".
Investigation and Political Context
French anti-terror prosecutors have reportedly launched a preliminary investigation, examining suspected conspiracy to commit terrorist acts alongside the carrying of weapons in relation to such activity, as reported by the Express.
The footage also showed the group dismissing proposals to grant Corsica enhanced autonomy while maintaining its status within the French Republic. The suggested legislation has been approved by the lower house of the French parliament and is scheduled for Senate examination in October. Under the proposals, Corsica would gain recognition as a distinct historical, linguistic and cultural community, with its local assembly receiving enhanced powers.
FLNC-UC Rejects Autonomy Plan
However, the FLNC-UC dismissed the agreement as a "farce" and argued it falls short of acknowledging the Corsican people and their long-held grievances. It stated the measures "lead to the denial of the existence of our people and the repudiation of the main demands of recent decades". The organisation continued: "The Corsican people will never be a vulgar administrative community."
It further alleged that nearly 5,000 individuals relocate to the island from France annually to work or purchase property. French publication Corse-Matin reported the group highlighted a dramatic increase in second-home ownership, labelling those acquiring properties as "invaders".
Background of the FLNC
The FLNC initially appeared in 1976, taking responsibility for 18 attacks during what became known as a "blue night", which saw numerous bombings sweep across the island. Internal divisions subsequently caused it to fracture into various factions. A significant wave of attacks attributed to the FLNC occurred in 2023, involving 45 explosions predominantly targeting holiday properties and an abandoned tax office in Ajaccio. No casualties were reported.
