French national arrested in Paris as police foil 'advanced terror plot'

A man police allege was in the "advanced stages" of planning a terror attack has been arrested after a series of raids in Paris.

Streets in Argenteuil, in the French capital's north-west, were locked down and residents evacuated while the police operation took place overnight.

Bomb disposal experts were at the scene to allow police officers "to proceed with searching the apartment, the parking and the communal areas in optimal conditions," French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said.

"At this stage, there is no tangible evidence that links this plot to the attacks in Paris and Brussels," Mr Cazeneuve added.

The minister added that the suspect had been under surveillance "for several weeks" and that the arrest was also the result of "close and constant cooperation between European services".

"He belongs to a terrorist network that sought to strike our country," Mr Cazeneuve said.

The arrest comes two days after 31 people were killed in suicide bombings at Brussels airport and on the city's metro, putting security services across Europe on high alert.

France remains vigilant following the November 13 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people and injured hundreds more.

Both assaults have been claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group.

With AFP.