Two Arrested Amid Counter-Terror Op as Explosive Components Found Near Paris
Two individuals were arrested after French police had found elements which could be used to make explosives in an empty flat near Paris, according to a law enforcement source.
French police arrested two in the course of a counter-terrorist operation launched after components which could be used to manufacture explosives had been found in a flat in Val-de-Marne department located in the commune of Villejuif in the southern suburbs of Paris.
The source specified, as cited by Reuters that TATP explosive was found in the Paris suburb of Villejuif. The BFMTV broadcaster reported that two gas cylinders, electric wire and soldering iron were found. Documents of religious content, written in Arabic, were also reportedly seized.
The apartment's tenant and one of his friends were subsequently detained by the anti-terror units of Le Kremlin-Bicetre commune also located to the south of Paris.
Arrestation de suspects après la découverte d'explosifs à #Villejuif pic.twitter.com/GbTMDDq91p
— Jonathan Moadab (@Jonathan_RTfr) September 6, 2017
A subway station in Le Kremlin-Bicetre commune was closed due to security concerns. French combat engineers are working on the scene.
#France #Villejuif - Metro station Kremlin-Bicetre closed as a precautionary measure in both directions. Will probably reopen around 5 pm.
— Terror Events (@TerrorEvents) September 6, 2017
The investigation will be led by France's counter-terrorism prosecutor, a judicial source said according to Reuters.
A serious stash of explosives, described as strong & unstable, discovered in an apartment in #Paris suburb #Villejuif #AFP #France pic.twitter.com/28A5e1BXcf
— Bangers (@pasakdek) September 6, 2017
The explosive substance has been used several times during attacks in Western Europe. Terrorists from Catalonia's Alcanar died from a blast while preparing bombs using the substance in August.
The terror threat level is currently elevated in France, which has seen a number of terrorist attacks over recent months. In a recent incident on August 9, a ramming attack on soldiers took place in the Paris suburb of Levallois-Perret.
