French authorities arrested a man they believe was plotting an attack on several churches in Paris, France's top security official said Wednesday, after finding a huge weapons arsenal in his possession.
The suspect is a 24-year-old computer science student who is also accused in the death of young mother, the Associated Press reported, and was flagged as a security risk by officials last year, according to statements made by France's Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve.
Another French security official was not authorized to give details about the arrest, but told the news agency the suspect is an Algerian-born man whose long resided in France who was arrested Sunday after accidentally shooting himself and calling an ambulance. Upon arriving at the scene, a trail of blood led police to the suspect's car, where they found loaded guns and lists of potential targets were found.
A search of the man's southeastern Paris apartment yielded more weapons and ties to Islamic extremism, but failed to reveal direct ties to particular organized groups, according to information security officials told the AP.
The young mother who authorities say was also killed by the suspect was a Aurelie Chatelain, a 32-year-old Frenchwoman who was in Paris on a work trip. Chatelain was found shot dead in her car Sunday morning, the security official said authorities believe the suspect killed her at random.
The incident is the first major threat since the terror attacks on the satirical Charlie Hebdo newspaper and a Kosher supermarket in January that left 20 people dead, including three gunmen.
