Paris terror plot: Man arrested in 'advanced stages' of plan to attack French capital

The French interior minister said the Frenchman was implicated at a 'high level' in the plot

Thursday 24 March 2016 22:52 GMT

Police officers block a street in Argenteuil, northwest of Paris, late Thursday 24 March, 2016, as security forces locked down the area during a major search, France's interior minister said (AP)

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Louise Thomas

Louise Thomas

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A man has been arrested in the "advanced stages" of a plot to attack Paris, the French interior minister has said.

Bernard Cazeneuve said the man was arrested in a raid in Argenteuil, on the northern outskirts of the capital, after security forces locked down the area during a major search. Bomb squads are present to deal with potential expolosives.

He said the suspect was a French national and was implicated at a "high level" in the plot. He added that he had been under surveillance by police for several months.

Witnesses told France's i-Tele network the immediate area had been locked down and residents were unable to return home.

The interior minister said there were no links "at this stage" between the plan and the recent attacks in Paris and Brussels.

The arrest came two days after suicide bombers attacked Brussels Airport and a metro train, killing at least 31 and wounding over 270 people.

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Wreaths of flowers in front of an entrance of the Maalbeek subway station in Brussels in homage to the victims of a terrorist attack.

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Wreaths of flowers in front of an entrance of the Maalbeek subway station in Brussels in homage to the victims of a terrorist attack.

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

A building illuminated with the Belgian flag colours and a heart in Brussels, two days after suicide bombing attacks of terrorists on March 22 in Zaventem airport and subway Maelbeek.

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

A picture taken on 24 March, 2016 on place de la Bourse in Brussels, shows drawings and a candle, two days after suicide bombing attacks of terrorists on March 22 in Zaventem airport and Brussels subway Maelbeek

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Candles are displayed in tribute to the Brussels attacks victims on 24 March, 2016 on place de la Bourse in Brussels, two days after the suicide bombing attacks of terrorists on 22 March.

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

A mourner lights a candle in Trafalgar Square during a candlelit vigil in support of the victims of the recent terror attacks in Brussels.

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Brussels airport workers pay tribute to the victims near Zaventem

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Activists light candles and hold placards to condemn the terrorist attacks in Belgium, during a gathering in Manila, Philippines

Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

A banner for the victims of the bombings reads "I am Brussels" at the Place de la Bourse in the center of Brussels

Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, left front center, stands with front row, left to right, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, Belgium's King Philippe, Belgium's Queen Mathilde and Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel as well as members of the European Commission during a minute of silence at EU headquarters in Brussels

Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

People join hands in solidarity near the former stock exchange following the bomb attacks in Brussels

Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Belgium flags ornate the facade of the Paris Town Hall

Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

A woman embraces her children at The Place de la Bourse as she pays her respects to victims of the terrorists attacks in Brussels

Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Belgian and European Union flags fly at half mast following the bomb attacks in Brussels

Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Candles in the colors of the Belgian national flag are lit inside the Belgian embassy in Madrid, a day after the deadly suicide attacks on the Brussels airport and its subway system

Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Servicemen of Azov, Ukrainian volunteers battalion, hold torches in front of floral tributes during a ceremony in front of the Belgian embassy in Kiev, in tribute to the victims of Brussels attacks

Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

A refugee boy holds up a placard reading "Sorry for Brussels" at a refugee camp near the Greek-Macedonian border

Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

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People light candles in tribute to victims at a makeshift memorial at the Place de la Bourse in Brussels

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

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A woman holds a drawing by French cartoonist Plantu picturing a character made of a French flag consoling another made of the Belgian flag, in front of the Hotel de Ville in Paris

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Brussels tributes

The colours of the Belgian flag are projected on to (clockwise from top left) the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the town council building in Belgrade, Rome's Campidoglio and the Royal Palace at Dam Square in Amsterdam

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Brussels tributes

Candles are lit in tribute to the victims, at the Place de la Bourse in Brussels

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Brussels tributes

A woman holds a placard reading "Paris hearts Belgium, How much time will it take us to open our eyes and say STOP, Today our hearts are broken, Open your eyes to change the future" at the Place de la Republique in Paris

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

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People gather to pay a tribute to victims of terrorist attacks in Brussels

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

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People write messages on the ground at Place de la Bourse in Brussels

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

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A bouquet of flowers in the Belgian national colours with a card reading 'To our neighbours, to our friends, to our Belgian brothers - an indignant Parisian' is seen next to a French national flag at the fence of the Belgian embassy in Paris

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

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Solidarity messages are written in chalk outside the stock exchange in Brussels

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Brussels attacks: tributes are paid to the victims

Brussels tributes

Messages and floral tributes outside the Brussels stock exchange

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France has been on high alert since the 13 November attacks in Paris that killed 130 people and injured hundreds.

Mr Cazeneuve said there had been 75 arrests since the beginning of the year and 28 suspects had been jailed.

Additional reporting by AP

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