Two people were arrested Sunday in anti-terror raids outside Paris over an alleged plot to attack churches that was foiled by police in April, French authorities said.
The individuals, aged 35 and 39, were arrested in the Yvelines department, outside of Paris, as part of an investigation against Sid Ahmed Ghlam, who was taken into custody in April, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said in a statement.
Ghlam was arrested April 19 for allegedly planning to carry out attacks against churches in Villejuif, in Paris' southern suburbs, and for the murder of Aurélie Châtelain.
Châtelain, 32, was found shot dead in the trunk of a car in Villejuif in April, having purportedly been killed at random.
"Our determination to pursue the eradication of the entire terrorist network that organized the planned attack in Villejuif is total," Cazeneuve said.
Police have been searching the homes of the two people arrested Sunday, Cazeneuve said.
"It is now up to the investigation to determine the exact role that these two individuals have played in the entourage of Sid Ahmed Ghlam," he said.
Authorities have previously said Ghlam had received assistance and encouragement from terrorists operating in Syria.
Sunday's raid came five months to the day after gunmen attacked the satirical French newspaper Charlie Hebdo, killing 12 staff, before launching other deadly attacks around Paris.
"The fight against terrorism knows no break," Cazeneauve said. "It is permanent and strengthened daily by the additional resources that the government mobilizes. Every day, we carry out arrests, we prevent departures Syria, and we intercept returned individuals on our soil."
"Every day we bring blows to terrorism," he said.
