The Islamist movement Muslim Brotherhood has been expanding its influence in France, and its ultimate aim is to make the country part of a caliphate governed by Sharia law, according to the country’s top intelligence official.

Bertrand Chamoulaud, head of the National Directorate for Territorial Intelligence at the French Ministry of the Interior, made the remarks during an interview with Le Monde this week.

He said more than 100,000 Muslims attend mosques run by the Muslim Brotherhood, who spread their ideas through entrenchment and with a “very smooth” discourse rather than resorting to violence.