French authorities detain five men in anti-terror operations

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/02/french-authorities-detain-men-in-anti-terror-operations

Version 0 of 1.

French authorities have detained five men and seized weapons in anti-terrorist operations across France, five days before a tense presidential runoff.

The suspects are aged between 18 and 24. The prosecutor’s office said they were picked up in operations on Tuesday in three locations: near the Normandy city of Rouen, in Villeneuve d’Ascq near Lille in northern France, and in Roanne in central France.

The Paris prosecutor oversees anti-terrorism investigations.

It is not clear whether the arrests had any link to the presidential election. The runoff is on Sunday.

An attack claimed by Islamic State killed a police officer in Paris two weeks ago. France is under a state of emergency after a string of extremist attacks.