Paris attack: Germany probes explosives haul for links

German authorities are investigating whether a man arrested last week with huge quantities of explosives and machine guns was linked to attackers in France, as the country stepped up security measures in the wake of the Paris terror strikes which killed over 120 people.

The risk of Germany becoming the target of similar attacks is high and it continues to be a focus of international terror groups, interior minister Thomas de Maiziere said after an emergency meeting of the country's security cabinet here yesterday.

The authorities are currently investigating whether the seizure of "huge quantities of very dangerous weapons" from a car in Rosenheim, in the southern state of Bavaria last week was linked to the terror strikes in Paris, Maiziere added.

A man from Montenegro arrested in this connection is currently in preventive custody and police found him in possession of a navigation system, which contained an address in Paris.

But it is too early to say whether there is a German connection in the Paris attacks, he said.

The cabinet meeting yesterday evaluated the security situation in the country following the simultaneous attacks at six locations in the French capital, reportedly carried out by three teams of gunmen and suicide bombers.

In a statement yesterday, Islamic State (IS) terror group claimed responsibility for the attacks on Friday night and said they were in retaliation to French involvement in air strikes against IS militants in Iraq and Syria.

Additional security measures, which became effective from yesterday, included an increase in the number of armed police patrolling the airports and railway stations, close scrutiny of flights to and from France and intensification of rail and road traffic controls at the country's border with France, Maiziere told a news conference.

The authorities are also observing more closely radicalised Islamists who have returned home after fighting for IS militants in Iraq and Syria as well as those persons who are likely to be influenced by international terrorist organisations.

Right-wing extremist groups also are being watched as they are expected to react to the events in Paris, Maiziere said.

The situation now is "quite serious" and it requires that the people, governments, parliaments and the nations of Europe stand together, he said.