The governor of Bavaria said today that the arrest of a man in Germany last week may be linked to the Paris attacks.
A spokesman for Bavarian state police confirmed that firearms, explosives and hand grenades were found when undercover police stopped a man near the German-Austrian border on Nov. 5.
Ludwig Waldinger declined to confirm reports by public broadcaster Bayrischer Rundfunk that the man appeared to be en route to Paris when he was arrested.
Bavarian governor Horst Seehofer told reporters Saturday there were “reasonable grounds” to assume that there may be a link to the Paris attacks.
Two French police officials say that authorities have identified one of the suicide bombers as a young Frenchman flagged in the past for links with an Islamic extremist activity.
The officials said the man was among attackers who blew himself up after a rampage and hostage-taking in the concert hall.Earlier, police officials said at least one suicide bombers who targeted another site, France’s national stadium, was found to have a Syrian passport.
In the meantime Paris is on lockdown. French authorities have closed the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum and other top tourist sites in Paris until further notice following deadly terror attacks.
A Louvre spokeswoman said the museum opened as normal Saturday with enhanced security, but was ordered closed by the Culture Ministry after President Francois Hollande called for national day of mourning. Isabelle Esnous, a spokeswoman for the Eiffel Tower, said the monument did not open as a security precaution.
The Culture Ministry said “public cultural sites” were closed in the Paris region Saturday, without specifying.
At least 127 people died in Friday night’s rampage of shootings at Paris cafes, suicide bombings near France’s national stadium and a slaughter inside a concert hall. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility.
Parisians desperate to get in touch with family and friends missing since Friday’s coordinated attacks in Paris are taking to social media under the hashtag #rechercheparis — “Paris Search” in English — posting heartfelt messages and photos.
Scores of people that attended the six sites targeted in the attacks in which at least 127 people died are still unaccounted for.
One post reads: “Waleed is missing. We last contacted him at the match, Please share contact me if u have any info. #rechercheParis”.
Another: “I’ve been looking for my cousin since last night… He’s 25 and 1m75. He’s called Younes. #rechercheParis “
The photos and messages are garnering hundreds of retweets — from users eager to help in the search for survivors.