This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/world/europe/france-presidential-election-attack-plot.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
2 Held in France Over Plot to Disrupt Presidential Election 2 Held in France Over ‘Violent’ Plot to Disrupt Presidential Campaign
(about 9 hours later)
PARIS — Two men were arrested in southern France on Tuesday on suspicion of preparing an attack to disrupt campaigning ahead of the first round of the country’s presidential elections, the authorities said. PARIS — Two men were arrested in southern France on Tuesday on suspicion of preparing an attack to disrupt campaigning before the first round of the country’s presidential elections on Sunday, the authorities said.
The target of the plot was not disclosed. The news injected additional uncertainty into a tumultuous and dynamic race, in which the first round of voting takes place on Sunday. The target of the plot was not disclosed. The news injected additional uncertainty into a tumultuous and dynamic race, in which the four main candidates are neck-and-neck in the polls. It also put worries about terrorism back at the forefront of a campaign that had focused mostly on economic issues.
The two men, French citizens born in 1987 and 1993, were arrested Tuesday morning in the southern port city of Marseille, according to Matthias Fekl, the interior minister. The two men, French citizens aged 23 and 29, were arrested Tuesday morning in the southern port city of Marseille, according to François Molins, a prosecutor in Paris who handles terrorism investigations nationwide.
He said that the two men were “radicalized” and known to French intelligence services, and that they were “suspected of wanting to imminently commit a violent action on the eve of the French presidential election.” Mr. Molins, at a news conference on Tuesday, said that evidence gathered by investigators showed that two men, identified only as Mahiedine M. and Clément B., were preparing a “violent” and “imminent” act, and that they had gathered firearms and explosives at their hide-out in Marseille.
Marine Le Pen, the far-right candidate, and Emmanuel Macron, an independent candidate, told the news agency Agence France-Presse that their campaigns had gotten warnings about the two men, including their photographs. Ms. Le Pen is planning a campaign rally in Marseille on Wednesday evening. But he said investigators had not determined when or where the attack was to take place. The campaigns of several presidential candidates said Tuesday that they had been warned last week by the French authorities of a potential terrorist threat.
Several news agencies also reported that the campaign of the conservative candidate François Fillon, who on Monday evening held a rally in Nice, about 100 miles east of Marseille, had received warnings from the authorities about a potential threat. Marine Le Pen, the far-right candidate, and Emmanuel Macron, an independent, said that their campaigns had received warnings about the two men, including their photographs. Ms. Le Pen planned a campaign rally in Marseille on Wednesday evening.
Officials would not confirm those accounts. Mr. Fekl, who did not detail the motives or targets of the two men who were arrested, said that the Paris prosecutor’s office had opened an investigation before the arrests; the prosecutor, François Molins, was scheduled to brief journalists Tuesday evening. Mr. Molins said the two men met in prison in 2015 and were known to French intelligence services for their “radicalization.”
Since early 2015, France has experienced a series of terrorist attacks that have claimed more than 230 lives in Paris, Nice and other places, and French authorities regularly arrest people they suspect of planning attacks. At the apartment the two men rented in Marseille, investigators found several firearms and rounds of ammunition, as well as bomb-making material and three kilograms of explosives.
Mr. Molins said that French intelligence services “intercepted” a video last week that one of the men had been trying to transmit to the Islamic State. It showed a submachine gun, a black Islamic State flag and the front page of a newspaper that featured a picture of one of the candidates, who was not identified.
Since early 2015, France has experienced a series of terrorist attacks that have claimed more than 230 lives in Paris, Nice and elsewhere, and the French authorities regularly arrest people they suspect of planning attacks.
Security has been tightened at campaign rallies around the country, with multiple and thorough bag checks and pat-downs. France is still under a state of emergency that was first declared after the coordinated attacks in and around Paris in November 2015, in which 130 people died.Security has been tightened at campaign rallies around the country, with multiple and thorough bag checks and pat-downs. France is still under a state of emergency that was first declared after the coordinated attacks in and around Paris in November 2015, in which 130 people died.
Mr. Fekl said that French security forces were continuing house raids and security sweeps in connection with Tuesday’s arrests, adding that the terrorist threat was “still higher than ever.” Matthias Fekl, the French interior minister, said Tuesday that the terrorist threat was “still higher than ever.”
He also said that his ministry was “completely mobilized, more than ever,” to protect campaign rallies as well as the candidates and their headquarters.He also said that his ministry was “completely mobilized, more than ever,” to protect campaign rallies as well as the candidates and their headquarters.
Over 50,000 police officers, gendarmes and soldiers will be deployed across France to secure the two rounds of voting, on Sunday and on May 7, when a runoff between the two top vote-getters will be held.Over 50,000 police officers, gendarmes and soldiers will be deployed across France to secure the two rounds of voting, on Sunday and on May 7, when a runoff between the two top vote-getters will be held.
News of the arrests added a layer of uncertainty to an already unpredictable race, with four candidates currently neck-and-neck in the polls for the first round. Although terrorism is a major campaign issue, so far polls have shown that voters care most about the economy and unemployment.
Asked if he was worried about an attack on Election Day, Mr. Fekl told the newspaper Journal du Dimanche on Sunday that “no threat is ruled out,” adding that the authorities had to secure 67,000 polling stations.Asked if he was worried about an attack on Election Day, Mr. Fekl told the newspaper Journal du Dimanche on Sunday that “no threat is ruled out,” adding that the authorities had to secure 67,000 polling stations.
Caroline Morard, a spokeswoman for Mr. Fillon, confirmed in a text message that his team had known he was a potential target for a terrorist attack, but she would not say whether the campaign had been aware of a specific threat, or if it had been warned about the two men who were arrested on Tuesday.