Reuters reports that the LaFarge/Holcim company that runs the Lafarge cement plant in Ravena in southern Albany County is under investigation by French prosecutors after admitting it had paid armed groups to keep a factory operating in war-ravaged Syria. France has three people from the company under formal investigation into Lafarge’s operations and its possible, “financing of a terrorist enterprise.” The armed groups Lafarge paid for protection were allegedly aligned with terrorists, according to reports. In the French newspaper Le Figaro on Dec. 3, company chairman Beat Hess said, “Unacceptable errors were made that the group regrets and condemns. It’s of course easy to say that with hindsight, but the group certainly pulled out from Syria too late. That could all have been avoided.” The Financial Times reported Dec. 2 that "the company has not yet said whether it believes funds ended up ultimately with militant group Isis." Read the full story at Reuters website.