French suspect held for planning attack with Belgian pair

A 42-year-old French national appears in court on suspicion of plotting an attack with multiple weapons alongside two Belgian brothers who were up on terror charges in Brussels this week, according to judicial sources.

According to a source close to the inquiry, the man — whose name was not given but who was known to the authorities for being radicalized — was arrested near the northern city of Lille.

Paris prosecutors have opened an inquiry on grounds of terrorist conspiracy.

The suspect is believed to be connected to Akim and Khalid Saouti, two brothers who were charged in Brussels last week with belonging to a “terrorist group” and were believed to be planning an attack with a large stash of weapons including Kalashnikov rifles.

— AFP