Five More Arrested in French Terror Raids, Explosives Confiscated

The massacre at Charlie Hebdo's French offices two weeks ago have been the catalyst for terror raids across Europe like nothing we have ever seen before. Terrorism seems to be a topic at the front of nearly everyone's mind. Suspected sleeper cell members have been captured in Belgium and Germany with officials believing that they stopped a major attack with only a few hours to spare. French SWAT teams have also been scrambling to track down and round up potential suspects, and this morning, Jan. 20, they arrested five people of Russian decent who were accused of plotting an attack.

According to AOL News:

"The unnamed suspects, of Chechen ethnicity, were taken into custody during anti-terror raids as authorities continue to sweep the country following a pair of attacks earlier this month in Paris that left 17 people dead. No motivation or specific target has been named, according to French newspaper Le Figaro, but the explosives were reportedly found in close proximity to a soccer stadium in the town of Béziers.

"About 100 grams of the explosive TATP (Tiracetone Triperoxide) was found by police during the raid, according to France Info radio. No firearms were discovered.

"One of the suspects was arrested in Belziers, according to newspaper Midi Libre, five were apprehended in the nearby town of Saint-Jean-de-Védas."

So far investigators are not confirming that the soccer stadium was actually the intended target, but the amount of explosives could have easily blasted it sky high. Is seems like almost overnight Europe has come to the realization that attacks in various countries are imminent unless they really spring in to action and stop things.

How long before U.S. officials realize we are absolutely no different? Do you think it is reasonable to believe that sleeper cells have really been activated everywhere but on U.S. soil, or is it our turn next? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.

Tags
Europe, Charlie Hebdo
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