The Corsican National Liberation Front-Union of Combatants (FLNC-UC), a paramilitary group seeking independence from France, has released a video warning tourists and potential second-home buyers to stay away from the Mediterranean island.
In the footage, around a dozen hooded and armed militants stood with machine guns. A man believed to be the group's leader said: "Until our national rights are recognised and respected, we have only one message for them: stay at home."
Threats against 'invaders'
The group told anyone buying a second home in Corsica they "shouldn't feel safe", describing the influx of people as "rampant settlement-driven colonisation". It referred to those moving to the island as "invaders".
French anti-terror prosecutors have reportedly opened a preliminary investigation following the video's release, examining suspected conspiracy to commit terrorist acts and carrying weapons for that purpose.
Rejection of autonomy deal
The FLNC-UC also rejected an autonomy deal, calling it a "farce" that does not respect the Corsican people. The bill, which would recognise Corsica's distinct historical, linguistic and cultural community and grant its local assembly greater powers while keeping the island within the French Republic, has passed the lower house of Parliament and will be examined by the Senate in October.
The group said the bill "leads to the denial of the existence of our people and the repudiation of the main demands of recent decades", adding: "The Corsican people will never be a vulgar administrative community."
History of violence
The FLNC emerged in 1976, claiming 18 attacks during a "blue night" of bombings across Corsica. It has since split into several networks with internal rivalries. In 2023, the group claimed responsibility for 45 explosions, mainly targeting holiday homes and a disused tax office in Ajaccio, with no injuries reported.
