On November 13, a series of coordinated attacks at various locations in the French capital left over 130 dead and 350 injured, prompting President Francois Hollande to declare a state of emergency, increase defense spending and step up national anti-terror security.
Advertisement
The raids in the city of Lyon in east-central France have resulted in at least five arrested and seizure of weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades, French BFMTV reported.
Anti-Muslim sentiments expressed by right-wing groups are high in France following the Paris attacks for which the Isis has claimed responsibility.
Police seized 31 firearms as well as computer hard drives and telephones, and illegal drugs were found in 18 of the raids, Mr Cazeneuve told journalists.
In one raid on the house of the parents of a suspect, police found military fatigues and a rocket launcher in addition to more bullet proof vests and automatic handguns.
Police also carried out raids in Toulouse in southwestern France, where at least three people were arrested, according to the local prosecutor’s office.
“In Grenoble, there have been more arrests and on the French border with Belgium too and yet more people arrested”.
A Belgian man had earlier been identified as the suspected mastermind of the attacks. It is unclear whether they are linked to the attacks in Paris. The anti-terrorism units RAID (Recherche Assistance Intervention Dissuasion) and GIPN (Groupes d’Intervention de la Police Nationale), both tactical units of French federal forces, were leading the crackdown after the Paris attacks. Since then, the suspect has been on the run.
One of Salah’s brothers, Ibrahim, has been identified as the perpetrator of one of the suicide attacks on Friday night.
Advertisement
Valls said authorities believe that more attacks are being plotted across Europe and warned that another attack could strike France again “in the coming days or weeks”. Their relatives have been detained and are being questioned.
