France: armed vehicle discovered near synagogue in Paris region, terrorism enquiry opened
French authorities are investigating a suspected attack plot after the discovery of a suspicious vehicle containing weapons near a synagogue in Sarcelles, in the Paris suburbs.
France: armed vehicle discovered near synagogue in Paris region, terrorism enquiry opened
A suspicious vehicle containing weapons was discovered parked in Sarcelles, a municipality in the northern suburbs of Paris that is home to a large Jewish community. The case is now being handled as a terrorism enquiry by the national anti-terrorism prosecution service.
According to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, cited by Ekstra Bladet, the alert was raised on Saturday evening. Three hundred people were evacuated as a precautionary measure while bomb disposal experts inspected the vehicle. No explosives were found, but an anonymous French police source confirmed the presence inside of a military-type weapon and a handgun.
The minister specified that the car was parked in the immediate vicinity of one of the city's numerous synagogues. The motivations of the alleged perpetrators remain unknown at this stage, and no suspects have yet been identified.
The enquiry concerns the formation of a criminal association for terrorist purposes with a view to preparing crimes, in particular attacks on persons. It also targets the transport, possession and acquisition of weapons in connection with a terrorist enterprise.
The evacuation affected a cinema and several restaurants located in the area, where a security perimeter was established. The operation took place in the early evening in a highly frequented zone.
The Interior Minister also recalled that three attack plots had been foiled since the beginning of the year in France, including an attempt targeting a police officer under the Arc de Triomphe in February.
Source: Ekstra Bladet