A 39-year-old man was arrested in La Ciotat (Bouches-du-Rhône) during a routine traffic stop by city police at about 10 p.m. on May 17, Actu17 reported.
While checking the motorist on Avenue de l’Abeille, police officers discovered what looked like the barrel of a gun in the trunk. The National Police was called in and an officer of the Judicial Police (OPJ) searched the car. A loaded shotgun and a semi-automatic handgun were seized. The officers also discovered about 20 pieces of ammunition caliber 12 and 9 mm. The check revealed that the suspect’s car was not only reported stolen, but also had a false license plate number.
The 39-year-old, who was already known to police, was taken into police custody. “He remained silent about the origin of the weapons and the reason why he possessed them,” a source familiar with the investigation reported. According to a source familiar with the investigation, the suspect is on the S (state security, translator’s note) file card for activities related to terrorism.
At the end of his police custody, the man was brought before a judge. The prosecutor of the Republic of Marseille, Dominique Laurens, confirmed that a judicial investigation had been opened in the case. The 30-year-old was remanded in custody.