Man arrested for planning attacks on French churches

Police in France have arrested a man suspected of planning attacks on churches, according to the country's interior minister.

Bernard Cazeneuve said that the 24-year-old man, an Algerian, was planning to attack "one or two churches".

He was known to security services and had expressed a wish to travel to Syria.

The man was detained on Sunday after he called for an ambulance, having apparently shot himself by accident. A car was seized along with handguns, other weapons and bulletproof vests. Notes "unambiguously demonstrating" he planned an imminent attack were found, said Cazeneuve.

The man is also suspected of involvement in the death of a 32-year-old woman, Aurelie Chatelain, who was found dead in her car on Sunday. It is believed that passers-by discovered her body as smoke poured out of the car from an overheating laptop. She was visiting the Paris area to attend a training course.

Cazeneuve said: "Our thoughts and sorrow are with her relatives, her family, and her daughter now deprived of her presence."

The link between the two is not known.

France increased surveillance of activists posing a potential security risk after the January attacks on the Charlie Hebdo office and a Jewish supermarket.

related articles
Niger: Churches attacked in Charlie Hebdo protests
Niger: Churches attacked in Charlie Hebdo protests

Niger: Churches attacked in Charlie Hebdo protests

Charlie Hebdo\'s first edition after Paris terror attacks triggers violence against Christians in Niger and Algiers
Charlie Hebdo's first edition after Paris terror attacks triggers violence against Christians in Niger and Algiers

Charlie Hebdo's first edition after Paris terror attacks triggers violence against Christians in Niger and Algiers

Charlie Hebdo attackers urge more \'lone wolf\' operations
Charlie Hebdo attackers urge more 'lone wolf' operations

Charlie Hebdo attackers urge more 'lone wolf' operations

Charlie Hebdo memorial in Paris vandalised 4 times in 2 weeks
Charlie Hebdo memorial in Paris vandalised 4 times in 2 weeks

Charlie Hebdo memorial in Paris vandalised 4 times in 2 weeks

News
Disabled baby euthanized in the Netherlands
Disabled baby euthanized in the Netherlands

Doctors in the Netherlands euthanized a severely disabled one-year-old child, the first case reported by Dutch authorities under rules introduced in 2024 that allow ending the lives of seriously ill children between the ages of one and 12.

400% increase in euthanasia deaths in Australian state of Victoria
400% increase in euthanasia deaths in Australian state of Victoria

Right To Life UK said the surge in numbers showed why UK MPs were right to reject assisted suicide.

Ukrainian churches appeal for aid in starving Oleshky
Ukrainian churches appeal for aid in starving Oleshky

Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for the crisis in Oleshky.

Westminster Abbey plans memorial to JRR Tolkien
Westminster Abbey plans memorial to JRR Tolkien

The memorial will go next to that of his friend CS Lewis.