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| Thieves Grab Bomb Parts at French Military Base | |
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| PARIS — Thieves were able to penetrate a French military base in the south of France and escape with bomb-making matériel, despite heightened security in the wake of a terrorist attack at a gas and chemical factory last month. | PARIS — Thieves were able to penetrate a French military base in the south of France and escape with bomb-making matériel, despite heightened security in the wake of a terrorist attack at a gas and chemical factory last month. |
| In announcing the theft on Tuesday, the French Defense Ministry would not list the types or quantities of stolen matériel. But officials, who said the loss was discovered on Monday, did not dispute news reports that said at least 150 detonators and about 40 grenades, as well as an unknown amount of explosives, had been taken. | In announcing the theft on Tuesday, the French Defense Ministry would not list the types or quantities of stolen matériel. But officials, who said the loss was discovered on Monday, did not dispute news reports that said at least 150 detonators and about 40 grenades, as well as an unknown amount of explosives, had been taken. |
| The ministry said two investigations had been opened: one into the theft itself and how it happened and the other into the security measures at similar sites throughout France, according to a statement. | The ministry said two investigations had been opened: one into the theft itself and how it happened and the other into the security measures at similar sites throughout France, according to a statement. |
| Security was supposed to be tightened after an attack on an American-owned chemical plant near Lyon on June 26 by a man believed to have connections to Islamic extremists. The man, Yassine Salhi, 35, decapitated his boss before setting off an explosion, the authorities said, and he was arrested. | Security was supposed to be tightened after an attack on an American-owned chemical plant near Lyon on June 26 by a man believed to have connections to Islamic extremists. The man, Yassine Salhi, 35, decapitated his boss before setting off an explosion, the authorities said, and he was arrested. |
| The stolen explosives, which look like plastic bricks, and the detonators that were reported to have been stolen from the military base can be put together to make a bomb when attached to an electrical wire, said Jean-Vincent Brisset, a retired air force brigadier general who now is an analyst at the Institute for Strategic and International Relations. | The stolen explosives, which look like plastic bricks, and the detonators that were reported to have been stolen from the military base can be put together to make a bomb when attached to an electrical wire, said Jean-Vincent Brisset, a retired air force brigadier general who now is an analyst at the Institute for Strategic and International Relations. |
| “It’s more than easy, it’s almost ready-made,” he said, adding, “When you have the two parts, the plastic brick and the detonator, it’s two minutes to make a bomb.” | “It’s more than easy, it’s almost ready-made,” he said, adding, “When you have the two parts, the plastic brick and the detonator, it’s two minutes to make a bomb.” |
| The base at Miramas, which is north of Marseille, is the largest depot in the Provence region, said Frédéric Vigouroux, the mayor of Miramas. | The base at Miramas, which is north of Marseille, is the largest depot in the Provence region, said Frédéric Vigouroux, the mayor of Miramas. |
| Two layers of electric fence surround the base, which is under 24-hour surveillance, according to local news reports, so it was not immediately clear how someone was able to enter without being detected. | Two layers of electric fence surround the base, which is under 24-hour surveillance, according to local news reports, so it was not immediately clear how someone was able to enter without being detected. |
| “Usually there are people patrolling the walls,” Mr. Brisset said. “We have very few problems at our sites.” He added: “It’s very surprising.” | “Usually there are people patrolling the walls,” Mr. Brisset said. “We have very few problems at our sites.” He added: “It’s very surprising.” |
| A spokesman for the Defense Ministry, Col. Gilles Jaron, confirmed there were regular patrols of the base, where about 160 people work, both military and civilians. | A spokesman for the Defense Ministry, Col. Gilles Jaron, confirmed there were regular patrols of the base, where about 160 people work, both military and civilians. |
| Mr. Brisset said it was likely that whoever planned and carried out the theft had inside information, because otherwise the people would not have known where to enter and what to look for. | Mr. Brisset said it was likely that whoever planned and carried out the theft had inside information, because otherwise the people would not have known where to enter and what to look for. |
| The base is used to supply flights taking off for foreign locations where the French Army is fighting, such as Mali and, in the past, Afghanistan, said Mr. Vigouroux and Mr. Brisset. | The base is used to supply flights taking off for foreign locations where the French Army is fighting, such as Mali and, in the past, Afghanistan, said Mr. Vigouroux and Mr. Brisset. |
| The materials would be attractive to many people, experts said, including terrorists, criminals and people who wanted to sell them on the black market. | The materials would be attractive to many people, experts said, including terrorists, criminals and people who wanted to sell them on the black market. |