The suspects, aged 23 and 29, were arrested by French domestic intelligence service agents in the southern city of Marseille, a police source said.

French Interior Minister Matthias Fekl said the “radicalised” men intended to strike “in the next few days in France”.

According to sources, police have recovered firearms and bomb materials from the two suspects.

France has remained on high alert since a string of terror attacks that began in 2015, which have killed over 230 people.

Meanwhile, photos of the two arrested suspects were distributed to the security teams of candidates in the upcoming French presidential election.

“The photos were passed to my security service from Thursday,” far-right candidate Marine Le Pen told the news agency AFP, while an aide to centrist Emmanuel Macron also confirmed receiving pictures.

Conservative Francois Fillon was warned about the danger on Friday, an aide said.</s>Police have arrested two suspected radicals who were allegedly preparing an "imminent" attack in France.

The news comes as the country prepares to vote this weekend in the first round of its presidential election.

French interior minister Matthias Fekl said at a brief news conference that the arrests took place in the southern city of Marseille.

He said the "radicalised" suspects were preparing to strike Marseille "in the next few days".

"The men are suspected of wanting to commit, in an imminent way, a violent action on the eve of the French presidential election," he said.

According to a source close to the probe, the two suspects are aged 23 and 29, and have been taken into custody by French domestic intelligence service agents.

The source said French police had been hunting the pair since the end of last week, seizing them a few minutes apart in the southeastern port city.

A search of a rented apartment has reportedly been made, and the source says the two men appeared to have turned to radical Islam during a term in prison.

France has remained on high alert since a string of terror attacks that began in 2015, which have killed over 230 people.

France goes to the polls to choose a new president on 23 April, with a second round of voting due on 7 May.

Anti-EU, anti-immigration candidate Marine Le Pen has sought to cast herself as the best defender of France against the threat of fresh attacks.

Emmanuel Macron, the 39-year-old pro-European candidate appears to have the best chance of beating Le Pen in a run-off.

While radical leftist candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon and conservative ex-premier Francois Fillon have also gained ground, transforming the election into a tight four-way race.</s>Two ‘radicalised’ French nationals held and guns also retrieved in Marseille operation that minister says foiled imminent attack

Police in Marseille have seized guns and bomb-making materials after arresting two men suspected of planning an “imminent and violent attack” days before the first round of France’s presidential election.

The French interior minister, Matthias Fekl, said the two, who were detained at different addresses in the southern port city, were French nationals aged 24 and 30.

“These two radicalised men … intended to commit in the very short-term – by that I mean in the coming days – an attack on French soil,” Fekl told journalists. He said a definite attack had been foiled but gave no details of its target.

The Paris prosecutor, François Molins, said an Islamic State (Isis) flag and jihadist propaganda had been found the home of one suspect. He said the second suspect had links to a Belgian cell. The two men met in 2015, while sharing a prison cell for petty crime, Molins said.

Le Figaro newspaper quoted a source in the campaign team of the right wing candidate François Fillon as saying the tip-off leading to the arrests had come from the UK, which had “intercepted data on two individuals known to the intelligence services”.

Photos of the men were given last week to the security teams of two of the election’s leading contenders, the far-right leader Marine Le Pen and independent centrist Emmanuel Macron, their campaigns said.

Le Pen and Macron woo Paris as French election enters final stretch Read more

“The photos were passed to my security service from Thursday,” Le Pen, who is scheduled to hold the last big rally of her campaign in Marseille this week – told Agence France-Presse. A Macron aide also confirmed his team had seen the pictures.

A spokesman for Fillon, who is nipping at Le Pen and Macron’s heels in a contest that has become too close to call, said his campaign had been informed of a possible security risk on Friday. The paper also said police had recovered a video of the men swearing allegiance to Isis.

The suspects, Mahiedine Merabet and Clement Baur, were both detained under arrest warrants for terrorist criminal association, according to a police document obtained by the Associated Press. The French president, François Hollande, hailed the “remarkable” arrests.

Fekl said more than 50,000 police, gendarmes and soldiers would be deployed across the country for both days of the election, whose first round this Sunday will be followed by a runoff between the two top candidates on 7 May.

“Everything has been put in place to ensure the security of this big event for our democracy and our republic,” he said. “Security forces are mobilised everywhere across France to ensure the security of French people.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Clement B and Mahiedine M, the two men arrested in Marseille. Photograph: Police handout/AFP/Getty

With France still in a state of emergency after Islamist terrorist attacks since January 2015 that have killed more than 230 people, national security has been a major theme of the presidential campaign.

Recent polls show Le Pen and Macron on 22% and 24% of the vote, leading Fillon and the hard-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon by only by three or four points. With as many as one-third of voters still undecided, any two could go through to the runoff.



Le Pen told RTL radio on Tuesday she would expel foreign extremists and call up army reservists to close France’s borders if she won. “We cannot fight the terrorism that weighs on our country without controlling our borders,” she said.

Macron said the arrests were a reminder the terrorist threat remained very high, but added: “Terrorism ... is a challenge that calls on us more than anything else to come together, because the terrorists wish nothing more than our division.”

French elections: all you need to know Read more

Doubling down on a promise on Monday to suspend all immigration, Le Pen also told RTL she would impose a moratorium for several weeks “to assess the situation. The reality is that immigration is massive in our country.”

She added that a Le Pen presidency would aim to limit annual immigration to 10,000, and would freeze long-term visas for two weeks to ensure recipients were not taking jobs from French citizens.

Fillon told Europe 1 radio on Tuesday the Front National leader’s plan was absurd. He said while immigration numbers should come down, the key was to preserve French values and identity.

“Immigration must be regulated because we have an economic, social and housing situation that doesn’t enable us to welcome as many people who want to come here,” Fillon said. “But a moratorium makes no sense.”

Polls have shown voters more concerned about unemployment and living standards than terrorism or security, though analysts warn this could change in the event of further attacks.

Several polls modelling possible second-round permutations have suggested Macron would win the runoff round whoever he is up against, while Le Pen would lose. Mélenchon would defeat every candidate except Macron, and Fillon would lose to all except Le Pen.</s>Police have arrested two suspected radicals who were allegedly preparing an "imminent" attack in France.

The news comes as the country prepares to vote this weekend in the first round of its presidential election.

French interior minister Matthias Fekl said at a brief news conference that the arrests took place in the southern city of Marseille.

He said the "radicalised" suspects were preparing to strike Marseille "in the next few days".

"The men are suspected of wanting to commit, in an imminent way, a violent action on the eve of the French presidential election," he said.

According to a source close to the probe, the two suspects are aged 23 and 29, and have been taken into custody by French domestic intelligence service agents.

The source said French police had been hunting the pair since the end of last week, seizing them a few minutes apart in the southeastern port city.

A search of a rented apartment has reportedly been made, and the source says the two men appeared to have turned to radical Islam during a term in prison.

France has remained on high alert since a string of terror attacks that began in 2015, which have killed over 230 people.

France goes to the polls to choose a new president on 23 April, with a second round of voting due on 7 May.

Anti-EU, anti-immigration candidate Marine Le Pen has sought to cast herself as the best defender of France against the threat of fresh attacks.

Emmanuel Macron, the 39-year-old pro-European candidate appears to have the best chance of beating Le Pen in a run-off.

While radical leftist candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon and conservative ex-premier Francois Fillon have also gained ground, transforming the election into a tight four-way race.</s>Police have arrested two suspected radicals who were allegedly preparing an "imminent" attack in France.

The news comes as the country prepares to vote this weekend in the first round of its presidential election.

French interior minister Matthias Fekl said at a brief news conference that the arrests took place in the southern city of Marseille.

He said the "radicalised" suspects were preparing to strike Marseille "in the next few days".

"The men are suspected of wanting to commit, in an imminent way, a violent action on the eve of the French presidential election," he said.

According to a source close to the probe, the two suspects are aged 23 and 29, and have been taken into custody by French domestic intelligence service agents.

The source said French police had been hunting the pair since the end of last week, seizing them a few minutes apart in the southeastern port city.

A search of a rented apartment has reportedly been made, and the source says the two men appeared to have turned to radical Islam during a term in prison.

France has remained on high alert since a string of terror attacks that began in 2015, which have killed over 230 people.

France goes to the polls to choose a new president on 23 April, with a second round of voting due on 7 May.

Anti-EU, anti-immigration candidate Marine Le Pen has sought to cast herself as the best defender of France against the threat of fresh attacks.

Emmanuel Macron, the 39-year-old pro-European candidate appears to have the best chance of beating Le Pen in a run-off.

While radical leftist candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon and conservative ex-premier Francois Fillon have also gained ground, transforming the election into a tight four-way race.</s>Police have arrested two suspected radicals who were allegedly preparing an "imminent" attack in France.

The news comes as the country prepares to vote this weekend in the first round of its presidential election.

French interior minister Matthias Fekl said at a brief news conference that the arrests took place in the southern city of Marseille.

He said the "radicalised" suspects were preparing to strike Marseille "in the next few days".

"The men are suspected of wanting to commit, in an imminent way, a violent action on the eve of the French presidential election," he said.

According to a source close to the probe, the two suspects are aged 23 and 29, and have been taken into custody by French domestic intelligence service agents.

The source said French police had been hunting the pair since the end of last week, seizing them a few minutes apart in the southeastern port city.

A search of a rented apartment has reportedly been made, and the source says the two men appeared to have turned to radical Islam during a term in prison.

France has remained on high alert since a string of terror attacks that began in 2015, which have killed over 230 people.

France goes to the polls to choose a new president on 23 April, with a second round of voting due on 7 May.

Anti-EU, anti-immigration candidate Marine Le Pen has sought to cast herself as the best defender of France against the threat of fresh attacks.

Emmanuel Macron, the 39-year-old pro-European candidate appears to have the best chance of beating Le Pen in a run-off.

While radical leftist candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon and conservative ex-premier Francois Fillon have also gained ground, transforming the election into a tight four-way race.</s>Two Frenchmen arrested in Marseille on Tuesday planned an “imminent and violent attack” ahead of the first round of the presidential election on Sunday, France's interior minister said. France's internal intelligence agency, which had been looking for the two suspects for more than a week, had warned main candidates in the election that there was a threat to their security, campaign officials said.

Comments by officials indicated that former prime minister Francois Fillon, centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen - three leading contenders - were among those warned of a security risk.

These two radicalized men ... intended to commit in the very short-term - by that I mean in the coming days - an attack on French soil, Interior Minister Matthias Fekl told a news conference. A definite terrorist act had been foiled, he said.

France goes to the polls on April 23 and on May 7 in one of the most unpredictable elections in its modern history with security a key issue after attacks by militant Islamists which have killed more than 230 people in the past two years.

The two men - 23-year-old Clement Baur and 30-year-old Mahiedine Merabet - were seized in the southern port city a few moments apart from each other on Tuesday morning.

Local mayor Lisette Narducci said explosives had been found after a search of an apartment near Marseille's largest train station. Sources close to the investigation said at least two assault weapons had been found.

The main candidates were warned in the middle of the last week that there was a risk and that two individuals had been identified. We received their photos and security of the candidates. Their meetings and headquarters were given extra protection, Macron's spokesman Benjamin Griveaux told Reuters.

Officials from Fillon's camp and Le Pen's National Front said they also had received word of a possible attack.

With the country still under a state of emergency, Fekl said 50,000 police, gendarmes and soldiers would be deployed for each leg of the election, and security reinforced for the candidates.

Everything has been put in place to ensure the security of this big event for our democracy and our Republic. The security forces are mobilized everywhere across France to ensure the security of French people and to ensure the presidential campaign goes smoothly, he said.</s>Counter-terrorist police and soldiers in Marseille at the scene of the raid. Photo: AFP

Police arrested two men in Marseille Tuesday on suspicion of planning an attack just days before the first round of France's presidential election, with bomb-making materials and guns found in searches.

The foiled plot sparked fears the closing days of the campaign could be a target for extremists ahead of Sunday's vote.

Elite police and agents from France's domestic intelligence agency detained the two Frenchmen -- identified only as 23-year-old Clement Baur and Merabet Mahiedine, 29 -- with Interior Minister Matthias Fekl saying they were known to be "radicalised."

"They were aiming to commit in the very short term, in other words in the next few days, an attack on French soil," Fekl said.

French authorities found three kilos of explosives, several guns and an Islamic State jihadist flag in subsequent raids of an apartment in Marseille, said Paris prosecutor Francois Molins.

Several French media cite sources in the intelligence services who say the attack plot was targeting a specific presidential candidate.

Reports suggest that candidate was François Fillon, but it is believed counter-terror police acted quickly because Marine Le Pen is due to appear in Marseille on Wednesday.

This has not been confirmed by authorities.

Photos of the two men arrested on Tuesday were distributed to the security teams of candidates in the upcoming French presidential election, campaign sources told AFP.

"The photos were passed to my security service from Thursday," far-right candidate Marine Le Pen told AFP, while an aide to centrist Emmanuel Macron also confirmed receiving pictures.

Conservative Francois Fillon was warned about the danger on Friday, an aide said. He added that only Fillon's security had been reinforced, suggesting that it may have been the Republicans candidate who was the target.

An aide to FIllon also told Le Figaro newspaper that the initial tip off about the plot came from British intelligence services.

Reports claim a video made by the two men in which they declared allegiance to Isis was found and that the front page of a newspaper showing the candidate they reportedly intended to target was also found in their possession.

Sources close to the investigation have told French media they were ready to act "imminently". They were arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected terrorist and arms offences.

France's Minister of Interior Matthias Fekl said the pair were ready to carry out an attack on French soil "in the next couple of days."

He provided little details about the alleged plot but said: "Everything would be done to ensure security around the elections".

France has been on high alert ever since a series of attacks in 2015 and 2016 left over 230 dead in Paris and Nice. The recent attacks in London and Stockholm have only heightened worries.

Authorities have been particularly concerned that jihadists would try to target the presidential election, the first round of which is on Sunday.

Interior Minister Matthias Fekl has announced that 50,000 officers will be mobilized across the country's 67,000 polling stations to try to prevent any terror attack or other outbreaks of violence by extremist groups.

Fekl told The Journal du Dimanche on Sunday that the threat was "high and permanent".

French police have made numerous arrests for suspected terrorist offences since the beginning of the year.

According to the Journal du Dimanche the DGSI intelligence services have warned the main candidates over "a specific threat to their security and on their campaign headquarters".

Security has been tight at campaign events with snipers and specialist anti-terror police units being deployed at a François Fillon campaign event in Montpellier and bomb disposal experts checking venues ahead of each rally.

Polls have shown that voters are more concerned about unemployment and their spending power than terrorism or security, though analysts warn this could change quickly in the event of further bloodshed.

Anti-EU, anti-immigration candidate Marine Le Pen has sought to cast herself as the best defender of France against the threat of fresh attacks.

At a campaign rally in Paris on Monday night she declared the terror attacks of Nice and Paris would not have happened if she had been in power.

Marine Le Pen's headquarters were targeted by petrol bombs earlier this month. The attack was claimed by an anti-fascist group. There were also ugly scenes with anti-fascist protesters clashing with police ahead of Le Pen's rally in Paris on Monday night.</s>Paris: Two Frenchmen arrested in Marseille on Tuesday planned to carry out an "imminent and violent attack" ahead of the first round of the presidential election on Sunday, France's interior minister said.The pair, who police said were seized in the southern port city a few moments apart from each other, were radicalised French nationals aged 24 and 30, the minister, Matthias Fekl, said. Le Pen vows to fight fundamentalism Far right French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen vows to vanquish radicalism in communities by controlling mosques and the languages spoken within them.

Start the conversation, or Read more at The Daily Millbury.</s>PARIS — French officials say they have foiled an "imminent and violent attack" on the eve of pivotal presidential elections, arresting two men in the southern port city of Marseilles on Tuesday morning.

Security officers searching the homes in connection with the arrests found "a massive quantity of explosives ... and containers of products such as acetone to prepare the explosive," according to Michele Azulé, a spokeswoman for the Marseilles mayor's office.

"Many weapons were also seized," she added.

France goes to the polls to choose a new president on April 23 and on May 7 in a two-stage election.

France's Interior Minister Matthias Fekl said the pair, who police said were seized in the southern port city a few moments apart from each other, were radicalized French nationals aged 24 and 30.

"These two radicalized men ... intended to commit in the very short-term — by that I mean in the coming days — an attack on French soil," Fekl said at a news conference.

National security is a burning issue for many in France after attacks by militant Islamists across the country have killed more than 230 people over the past two years.

With the country still under a state of emergency, Fekl said more than 50,000 police, gendarmes and soldiers would be deployed for each leg of the election.

"Everything has been put in place to ensure the security of this big event for our democracy and our republic," he said. "The security forces are mobilized everywhere across France to ensure the security of French people and to ensure the presidential campaign goes smoothly."
French Interior Minister Matthias Fekl announces that police have foiled an "imminent and violent" attack in Marseille, arresting two suspects and confiscating weapons and bomb material.