A man has been arrested in France for allegedly plotting a terror attack that could have targeted the famous Louvre Museum in Paris.
The Interior Ministry also disclosed that the suspect was planning an attack specifically targeting members of the Jewish community in Paris.
The suspect was taken into custody after his mobile device was checked by police during a traffic stop. He had been driving with a forged license.
His phone contained images of firearms and knives, jihadist propaganda videos, ISIS-related imagery posted on social media, and encrypted communications with contacts.
The accused, officials say, discussed knowledge of access routes into the Louvre, possible placement of explosives inside the museum, and production of ricin toxin.
The 27-year-old Tunisian national was arrested on May 7 and is currently in pre-trial detention. An investigation was formally opened on Monday.
The French Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office said the man is being held on the grounds of “terrorist association” with intent to “commit crimes against individuals.”
In 2022, he entered Europe through Lampedusa—Italy’s southernmost island situated near Tunisia—and was living in the Paris region without residency status, officials told ABC News.
Last October, thieves broke into the Louvre Museum, the world’s most-visited, and made off with jewels worth over $102 million, according to the prosecutor’s office.
