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'Suspicious' car found in Paris suburb near synagogue

By AAP Newswire

Jul 13, 2026

Police car — French authorities say a "suspicious" ‌car near a Paris synagogue is being investigated . -AP

French anti-terrorism prosecutors have launched an investigation after weapons were discovered in a vehicle near a synagogue in a Paris suburb, a statement from the prosecutor's office says.

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The statement on Sunday said a Kalashnikov-type machine gun with several magazines and a pistol had been found in the vehicle, which was located "in the immediate vicinity" of a cinema and 500 metres from a synagogue in Sarcelles, north of Paris.

About 300 ‌people were told to leave the neighbourhood, a ‌multicultural suburb with a large Jewish population, because of a "suspicious" ‌car, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said.

Nunez, speaking to French broadcaster ⁠BFM, ‌said the incident took place on Saturday evening.

Nunez said an investigation was under way and that a "military weapon" had been found ‌in the vehicle and that the motive and suspect had not been identified.

The Paris prosecutor's office said authorities had received a tip-off about a possible Islamist attack on a synagogue in Sarcelles and had been searching for the car.

The vehicle turned out to have been stolen, with parts of its number plate removed.

The investigation is being conducted on suspicion of forming a terrorist organisation, as well as the transport, possession and acquisition of certain weapons in connection with a terrorist enterprise.

Nunez said those responsible had not yet been identified.

with DPA