French police have detained 12 people in the south of the country suspected of links to Islamist extremism. Nine were detained in the cities of Marseille and Avignon on suspicion of arms and explosives trafficking. Weapons and ammunition were seized. The other three were arrested in an operation against a network alleged to be supplying forged papers to jihadists returning from Afghanistan. The police haven't said if the arrests are linked to warnings of an increased terror threat in parts of Europe.
Details have been emerging which suggest that Monday's missile strike by a pilotless American plane in northwest Pakistan may have been part of a US effort to disrupt the reported plans of al-Qaeda to attack targets in Europe. Missiles killed eight militants, including five German citizens. More from our security correspondent Gordon Corera.
There has been a steady flow of suspected terrorists heading out from Germany, including a dozen people who left in early 2009 from a mosque linked to the 9/11 attack. One person associated with that group, Ahmed Sidiqi, was arrested in Afghanistan this summer, and during his interrogation by US officials, he is believed to have spoken of a plot to carry out commando-style gun attacks in Europe. Additional intelligence heighten concerns over such a plot, but both British and German officials have suggested that they do not believe an attack is imminent.
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