France terrorist attacks

A terrorism suspect, allegedly involved in plotting an attack in Lyon, France, in 2014, was mistakenly released from custody after a judge forgot to renew his pre-trial detention, the French government has confirmed.

France is deploying undercover officers from elite forces on trains across the country. Blending with passengers and being extremely discrete, the agents blow their cover only in the event of a terrorist attack.

French authorities have foiled five terrorist attacks this year, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb revealed, with local media reporting that, in at least two cases, radicalized suspects had plotted to target gay and swinger groups.

France is gearing up to release 40 radicalized prisoners in the coming months, a move which the country's lead counter-terrorism prosecutor says is a "major risk," as they could have become more radicalized behind bars.

French authorities have thwarted a possible attack using either highly toxic ricin gas or explosives, Interior Minister Gerard Collomb has said. Just a few grains of purified ricin powder is enough to kill an adult human.

France's interior minister has branded the Chechen leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, a "dictator" after he said Saturday's Paris attacker was raised and radicalized in France.