In the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attack police in France have arrested five Chechens suspected of possessing explosives. Terrorism officials were not aware of the suspects prior to their arrest, although they were known to organized crime units.
Four men have also been charged with supporting Amedy Coulibaly and are due to appear in Paris court. Seventeen people were killed in three days of terror attacks in Paris.
The Chechens were apprehended during raids in Beziers and Saint-Jean-de-Vedas near Montpellier. Hidden explosives were found during the search and investigators are attempting to determine if they were planning an attack. Yvon Calvet said people “shouldn’t jump to conclusions” about the arrests. Chechnya has witnessed large demonstrations against the cartoons published in Charlie Hebdo of the Prophet Muhammad.
