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Sarkozy death threat suspect held | |
(about 11 hours later) | |
French police have arrested a man suspected of sending death threats, along with bullets, to President Nicolas Sarkozy and other politicians. | |
The man, a military reservist in his 40s, was detained at his home in the southern city of Montpellier. | |
Mr Sarkozy and eight other top French politicians received death threats in letters stuffed with bullets. | |
The mysterious, identical 20-line typed letters were full of spelling mistakes and abusive language. | |
Senior members of Mr Sarkozy's centre-right UMP party were targeted, along with three cabinet ministers. | Senior members of Mr Sarkozy's centre-right UMP party were targeted, along with three cabinet ministers. |
Justice Minister Rachida Dati and former PM Alain Juppe were among them. | Justice Minister Rachida Dati and former PM Alain Juppe were among them. |
Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie and Culture Minister Christine Albanel also received such letters. | Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie and Culture Minister Christine Albanel also received such letters. |
They contained 9mm or .38-calibre bullets, officials said. | They contained 9mm or .38-calibre bullets, officials said. |
The motivation behind the threats was not clear. | |
The Associated Press reports that the letter speaks of a mysterious "Cell 34", mentions 1,000 combatants, and describes the recipients as the legislators of "liberty-crushing" and "fascist" laws. | The Associated Press reports that the letter speaks of a mysterious "Cell 34", mentions 1,000 combatants, and describes the recipients as the legislators of "liberty-crushing" and "fascist" laws. |
The letter concludes with the statement: "This letter is the last. There will be a black out. Total silence." | The letter concludes with the statement: "This letter is the last. There will be a black out. Total silence." |
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