French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, said on Tuesday in Paris that security forces had searched 128 houses overnight as part of anti-terrorism operations.
Cazeneuve did not say whether the searches led to any arrests, but added that police conducted a similar operation the previous night on 168 homes nationwide, taking in for questioning 23 people and seizing 31 weapons.
He said a total of 115,000 policemen and soldiers have been mobilised following the Nov. 13 multiple attacks on Paris, which killed 129 people and injured 352.
The minister disclosed that a meeting between French President Francois Hollande and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry would take place later on Tuesday at the U.S embassy in Paris.
Cazeneuve recalled that after arriving in Paris Monday night, Kerry said ultimately, Islamic State and all who shared their “despicable ideology” would be defeated.
He said France is expected to officially request for help from other EU states at a meeting of EU defence ministers in Brussels.
…German police detain 1 Algerian for attacks
Ralf Jaeger, German Interior Minister for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, said an Algerian man in a refugee reception centre has been detained by the police in connection with the attacks in Paris.
He said on Tuesday in Dusseldorf, Germany that the detainee is being investigated on suspicion of having told Syrian refugees at the centre that fear and terror could be spread in Paris in recent days.
Jaeger also alleged that he spoke about a bomb.
“There is currently an investigation into whether the man is an accomplice or a confidant.
The minister added that there was no solid evidence at the moment that the attackers in Paris had a connection to North Rhine-Westphalia. (NRW).
“There is also no concrete evidence that attacks were planned in NRW or in Germany.
“But nothing is being taken for granted because the situation is nonetheless “very serious,’’ he said.
The minister disclosed that the authorities had their eyes on some Salafi Islamists and German jihadists who had been in Syria and Iraq.
“Fifty who have returned are known.
Meanwhile, Werner Wolff, Senior Public Prosecutor in Arnsberg, said checks were being made into whether the allegations were credible.
–Dpa/Reuters/NAN
