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France explosions: Device found near Berre-L'Etang plant France explosions: Devices found near Berre-L'Etang plant
(about 9 hours later)
An electronic device has been found by investigators near a petrochemical plant in southern France, where two tanks caught fire after explosions on Tuesday, reports say. Two devices have been found by investigators near a petrochemical plant in southern France, after explosions caused fires at two tanks in the early hours of Tuesday.
A malicious act was already suspected by authorities because the two tanks were 500m (1,600ft) apart. The blasts went off at the Berre L'Etang almost simultaneously 500m (1,600ft) apart.
The fires were visible a long distance from the plant at Berre L'Etang. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said it was a criminal act but the motive was unknown.
Police sources told French media that they were analysing an electronic device that could start a fire. The local prosecutor said nothing had been ruled out, including terrorism.
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve was said to have responded to the fires by warning regional officials to step up security at sensitive sites across France. Asked about the fires, President Francois Hollande, on a visit to nearby Marseille, said a statement would be made on Thursday. The authorities had this week "also prevented terrorist attacks that could have taken place", he said.
Anti-terror officials in Paris were keeping a close eye on the investigation, a week after explosives and detonators were stolen from a military site at Miramas, little more than 20km (12 miles) away. French reports earlier linked the explosions at Berre L'Etang to a mysterious theft of explosives and detonators last week at a military site in Miramas little more than 20km (12 miles) away.
Prosecutors in the nearby town of Aix told local media that suspicious items had been found but they were badly damaged and had been sent for analysis. Naphtha blaze
The explosions were heard at around 03:00 (01:00 GMT) on Tuesday, setting alight two tanks at a site run by LyondellBasell, a multinational company with headquarters in the US and the Netherlands.
One tank was filled with petrol and the other with naphtha, a highly flammable distilled liquid distilled from petroleum.
The fires were visible several kilometres away. No-one was hurt and firefighters dealt with the petrol fire quickly but took several hours to bring the naphtha tank blaze under control.
Police sources revealed on Wednesday that they were analysing an electronic device found at the site that could start a fire.
Prosecutor Dominique Moyal said later that a second device of a similar type had been found on a third tank. The device had caused damage to the tank but had failed to ignite its contents.
Holes in the perimeter fence near one of the tanks were also being investigated.Holes in the perimeter fence near one of the tanks were also being investigated.
Officials were keeping an open mind about the fires but were not looking at any link to Islamist militants at this stage, Liberation website reported (in French). Mr Cazeneuve has warned regional officials to step up security at sensitive sites across France, particularly at the country's 1,100 plants containing hazardous chemicals.
Two tanks were set alight after the explosions at the site run by LyondellBasell, a multinational company with headquarters in the US and the Netherlands. French TV reported on Wednesday evening that four people had been detained at the start of the week across France on suspicion of links to Islamist circles. However, no link was made to the attack near Marseille.
One was filled with petrol and the other with naphtha, a highly flammable distilled liquid distilled from petroleum.
No-one was hurt and firefighters dealt with the petrol fire quickly but took hours on Tuesday to bring the naphtha tank blaze under control.