Paris terror attacks: France shuts down three mosques in security crackdown

Interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said it is the first time mosques have been closed ‘on grounds of radicalisation’

Bernard Cazeneuve said it is the first time mosques have been closed ‘on grounds of radicalisation’ (EPA)

France has shut down three mosques since the terror attacks in Paris, marking the first time the places of worship have been closed “on grounds of radicalisation”.

The mosques have been shut down as part of a crackdown on extremist activities.

One mosque was targeted by raids early on Wednesday where police seized a 9mm revolver, a computer hard disk and jihadist propaganda. The owner of the revolver has been arrested.

Cazeneuve said security officers placed nine people on house arrest and have banned 22 from leaving the country.

The mosque, situated in Lagny-sur-Marne, 22 miles east of Paris, also had a non-authorised Quaranic school, Cazeneuve said.

Last week two mosques, one in Lyon and one in the Paris suburb of Gennevilliers, were shut down, the first to be closed “on grounds of radicalisation,” Cazeneuve said.

He added that police have raided 2,235 homes and buildings, taken 232 people into custody, and seized 334 weapons – 34 of which were war-grade - since the brutal attacks on 13 November that saw 130 people killed in the French capital.

"In 15 days we have seized one-third of the quantity of war-grade weapons that are normally seized in a year," Cazeneuve said.

Additional reporting by agencies