French national and municipal police stand guard outside a commercial center in NIce, France, November 14, 2015, the day after a series of deadly attacks in Paris.
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Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks in which gunmen wearing suicide bombing belts killed 127 people in several locations in the French capital on Friday.
The public broadcaster reports that raids are continuing in the area with no word yet on whether the arrested man has been linked to last night’s attacks.
“I can confirm that they apprehended a man who was smuggling weapons in his personal vehicle”.
“There is reason to believe that this is possibly linked”, Seehofer said.
A spokesman for Bavarian state police confirmed earlier that firearms, explosives and hand grenades were found when officers stopped a man near the Austrian border on November 5.
Besides beefing up police presence and border controls, the minister said after a crisis cabinet meeting that security forces will also keep a close watch on far-right extremists.
Commenting on the attacks in Paris, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said: “My thoughts in these hours are with the victims of these terrorist attacks, their relatives, and all people in Paris”. Asked about his destination, the man said he wanted to see the Eiffel Tower, police said.
De Maiziere said that navigation systems that were found show “an address in Paris”.
Police said there was evidence the man was on his way to Paris, and he was caught during a traffic stop, the affiliate reported.
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Söder added that Germany should consider following France’s lead by closing the country’s borders if the European Union was unable to secure its external frontiers – something the state of Bavaria might also do itself if federal action is not forthcoming, he said.
