A man who opened fire on the French Embassy in Mali has admitted to membership in al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

A man attacked the French embassy in Mali Wednesday by setting a small gas cylinder on fire and trying to set off an explosion. Under questioning by law enforcement officials in Mali, the unnamed man admitted to carrying out the attack on behalf of the North African wing of the global Islamic terrorist organization, the Washington Post reports.

This is not the first time that France has been the victim of AQIM terrorism. Ever since France banned the wearing of veils, it has come under threat from al-Qaida. The country and its nationals have frequently been targeted for kidnapping by the terrorist organization. Earlier in the year, the French government refused to pay ransom for five French citizens kidnapped by the militant group.