French policeman held over suspected terror plot

A French police officer has been detained while awaiting trial after being arrested on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack, a judicial source and a source close to the case told AFP.

The 35-year-old officer was arrested on the street on August 23, according to the source close to the case. Sources said he follows “a violent radical far-right ideology”.

A judicial source said the man was also suspected of manufacturing weapons. TF1/LCI, whose report was confirmed by the judicial source, said the officer was suspected of planning violent attacks against state interests and of manufacturing 3D-printed weapons.

The policeman faces charges including preparing a terrorist act, unauthorised manufacture or trade in weapons in connection with a terrorist organisation, unauthorised weapon possession and incitement to terrorism through social media.

His lawyers had not responded to AFP as of Thursday evening.

The case follows the expulsion of another policeman from France's far-right National Rally party after body camera footage of him making racist comments sparked outrage.