French Interior Minister: We have thwarted a terrorist attack in its final stages

The French Interior Minister states that the country's security forces have arrested a man suspected of carrying out a terrorist attack "in the final stages" before its execution. The French anti-terrorism organization also raided an area around Paris on Thursday. The minister's comments come after suicide attacks and explosions in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, left over 30 dead and hundreds injured. Bernard Cazeneuve, the French Interior Minister, said on April 5 that there is currently no link between the recent arrest and previous attacks in Paris or recent attacks in Belgium. The arrested individual is a French citizen. According to France 24, the minister stated that the security forces managed to arrest the suspect through "detailed investigations that had begun weeks ago and involved significant human and technical resources" and at the same time "in close and ongoing cooperation with other European intelligence agencies." In recent days, following the Brussels attacks, European countries have increased their security measures. Mr. Cazeneuve mentioned that a bomb disposal unit has also been sent to an area 15 kilometers north of Paris. The French anti-terrorism forces raided a house in the "Argenteuil" area on Thursday night. According to Reuters, the anti-terrorism forces raided a house in the city of "Argenteuil" (in the "Val-d'Oise" department northwest of Paris). Radio "France Info" reported that the suspect was accused in Belgium of having connections with "jihadist networks." The television network "i-Télé" also reported that explosive materials were found in his home. No further details about the arrested individual and what he was planning have been released. According to Mr. Cazeneuve, 75 people have been arrested in connection with terrorist activities in France this year; among them, 37 are under interrogation, initial charges have been brought against them, and 28 have been imprisoned. Two days prior to the Interior Minister's statements, suicide attacks and explosions at the Brussels airport and metro resulted in the deaths of 31 people and nearly 270 injuries. These attacks are considered the worst of their kind in Belgium's history. In the terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13, 130 people were killed. The "Islamic State" claimed responsibility for both attacks. Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the Paris attacks, was arrested in Belgium a week ago. In this context, Iran condemned the deadly Brussels attacks. The two brothers involved in the Brussels attacks were on the "watch list" of the United States. ISIS called for an increase in terrorist operations by its supporters. The Brussels attacks led to an emergency meeting of EU ministers.