Two men arrested after Paris station explosion threat

Suspects had nine small camping gas bottles in their luggage, but no way to make them explode

Rail passengers enter Montparnasse station in Paris, France. Bloomberg

French authorities arrested two men at Montparnasse train station in Paris on Friday after one threatened to blow himself up, even though he did not have the means to do so.

Security at Paris train stations was increased following the incident, an interior ministry representative said.

The two men were charged in connection with making an “apology” for a terrorist act, the ministry said, without elaborating.

One of the men, a French citizen, had been drinking and possibly has mental health issues. He shouted that he was going to blow himself up, the ministry said.

The ministry added that the two men had nine small camping gas bottles in their luggage, but no way of making them explode.

The second suspect, believed to be a Libyan citizen, had been under investigation for breaking immigration laws, the ministry said.

Three dead in Paris shooting — in pictures

Anti-riot police stand in a cloud of tear gas after a protest by members of the Kurdish community turned violent, in central Paris. AP

A protester kneels on the ground after he was detained during the clashes. AP

Skirmishes erupted in the district a few hours after a gunman opened fire, in what is believed to be a racially motivated attack. AP

A bonfire lit by protesters.

Members of the Kurdish community gather near the scene where the gunman opened fire. AP

People gather behind a police tape at the crime scene. AP

The deadly shooting took place at a Kurdish cultural centre in the French capital's 10th district. AFP

Residents and onlookers gather near the crime scene. EPA

A police officer lets emergency services workers through a cordon securing the area. EPA

Police, firefighters and troops patrol the area. AFP

Witnesses reported seeing the gunman shoot 'blindly into the street'. Reuters

A police officer stands behind a cordon. EPA

Fire brigade medics at the scene. AP

The shots fired shortly before midday caused panic in the district, a bustling area of shops, restaurants and bars. Reuters

Police secure the street after the gunman opened fire. AFP