Two arrested in France, planning "short-term" terror attack

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Members of the French RAID police unit leave after searching the home of one of two men arrested in Marseille on April 18, 2017.

The men both have criminal records and are suspected of plotting "an imminent, violent act on French soil, though we don't know precisely the day, the target or targets", Molins added.

Extremism concerns shook France's presidential campaign Tuesday as authorities announced arrests in what they said was a thwarted attack and candidates urged tougher counterterrorism efforts for a country already under a state of emergency.

French Interior Minister Matthias Fekl said the "radicalised" men meant to strike "in the next few days in France", but provided few details about the alleged plot.

The suspects-two Frenchmen born in 1987 and 1993-were planning an attack "in the next few days", said.

French police foiled "violent attacks" ahead of presidency contest after arresting two radicalized men in Marseille of south France, Paris prosecutor said Tuesday.

Franois Molins, the Paris Prosecutor said that the two men met in 2015 when they were sharing a prison cell for petty crime.

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For weeks, centrist former banker Macron and National Front (FN) leader Le Pen have been out in front but opinion polls now show any of the four leading candidates could reach the second-round run-off on May 7.

With Le Pen expected to reach the second round, polls continue to indicate that whoever faces her will win, although after Brexit and Donald Trump's USA presidential election victory, no one is taking anything for granted.

Far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon suggested his three main rivals - Fillon, Le Pen and Macron - could have been potential targets of the two suspects in Marseille.

Melenchon, who leads a far-left alliance that includes the Communist Party, has risen in polls in recent weeks and is now considered as having a chance of reaching the runoff election.

"We need Europe, so we will remake it", Macron said.

"Everything has been put in place to ensure the security of this big event for our democracy and our republic", Interior Minister Fekl said. France's internal intelligence agency had warned the main candidates of a threat, campaign officials said.

The explosives found were of a type used in previous attacks in France and Belgium that were inspired by the Islamic State group.

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