A total of 11 men and two women who were part of a Facebook group called the “Barjols” (Crazies) are suspected of plotting attacks on Macron and members of his government, as well as mosques and migrants.

Jean-Pierre Bouyer, a retired man, is suspected of being the leader and had allegedly discussed attacking Macron in public with a ceramic knife which could not be detected in advance by security services.

Police swooped on the group and made arrests in 2018 after Bouyer drove to Moselle in eastern France where Macron was attending a memorial on the centenary of the end of the World War I.

Investigating magistrates decided to order a trial from January 12 to February 2 next year, according to their written decision which was seen by AFP.

The suspects face charges of terrorist conspiracy and preparing terrorist acts which carry sentences of up to 30 years in prison.

“It has been established that violent plans were being drawn up by members of the Barjols groups… with intent to cause serious public order disturbances through intimidation and terror,” the magistrates wrote.

Firstly “by carrying out violent acts against the head of state and members of the government in order to overthrow public institutions by force and also by targeting symbolic locations such as mosques or specific groups such as migrants in order to influence the policies of the government.”