Man arrested for foiled terror attack in Paris

A French anti-terrorist judge on Saturday charged a man with alleged involvement in a foiled terror attack planned for December 1 in the French capital, local media reports said.

The 31-year-old suspect was arrested earlier this weak and placed under formal investigation on charges of "association with terrorist and criminal organisations" and "acquiring, holding, transporting and offering weapons, in connection with a terrorist group", Xinhua news agency reported.

Investigators suspected him of having provided arms to a group of men who planned to attack police and public sites in and around Paris earlier in December.

In November, four French men and one of Moroccan origin, were arrested in a foiled assault. According to Paris prosecutor Francois Molins, they were directed by an Islamic State commander.

France has sought to extend a state of emergency, imposed after the Paris attack in 2015, for seven more months to cover the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.

--IANS

vgu/bg