The report suggests that had the departments worked together, the DCRI could have identified Merah’s radicalisation around two years earlier than they eventually did, in 2010.
Despite surveillance indicating that he was in regular contact with local radical Islamist elements, was exhibiting signs of paranoia and was receiving funds from extremists, surveillance on Mr Merah was reduced towards the end of 2011.
Following the release of the report, Interior Minister Manuel Valls vowed to “rapidly put into place the necessary adjustments”.
Plans presented to the French parliament earlier this month would allow the authorities to prosecute suspects for terrorism offences committed outside France, such as travelling to Islamist training camps.
The move is part of President Francois Hollande’s tightening of anti-terror laws as a result of the attacks.