site.btaBulgarian with European Arrest Warrant Detained at Marseille Train Station

Sofia, May 21 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said Monday, citing information from the Bulgarian Embassy in Paris, that a 48-year-old Bulgarian national was arrested at  Marseille's St. Charles Train Station on Sunday.

The detainee has been identified.

Information by AFP earlier said that the person was found to be in possession of electrical equipment that could be used to make an explosive device.

The Bulgarian Embassy in Paris said that as at the moment, there are no confirmed data that the detainee was plotting a terrorist act.

A European arrest warrant was issued for the person in 2012 for attempted murder in 2011 and an effective six-year prison sentence.

Initially the suspect claimed he was Chechen and spoke Russian. He was arrested on suspicion of preparing a crime. The police are trying to shed light on his intentions. His strange behaviour was noticed by a passenger, who alerted the military servicepersons patrolling the train station, which was shut down for four hours so that explosives experts can sweep the area.

The electrical equipment found on the suspect is not dangerous by itself, but could be used to make an explosive device.

Marseille Mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin said that an attack has been foiled, but the case has not been referred to the anti-terror prosecution office in Paris, AFP said.