Suspected Extremist Arrested in France: Homemade Explosives Found in Épinal Home

The 48-year-old man was on the radicalization watch list. During the search of his home, a pressure cooker containing black powder, as well as bolts, three homemade grenades filled with black powder and bolts, and electrical equipment were found in the basement.

Monitored for several years by the security services, he is known for his connections with the Islamist group Forsane Alizza, dissolved in 2012 by the French Ministry of the Interior.

For having boasted of knowing how to handle explosives, he was indicted for "criminal conspiracy", "manufacture of an explosive device in connection with a terrorist enterprise", and "possession and transport of explosive products or substances intended to be used in the composition of explosive devices".

He had already been convicted four times for drug trafficking and was released from prison in May 2018. The custody of the two other suspects arrested on Thursday, January 23, at the same time as him, was lifted. They are no longer subject to legal proceedings.