France remains on high alert after four people with links to jihadists were arrested earlier this week.

The country’s interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said that by carrying out the arrests, security forces prevented an attack on French military installations.

According to a source close to the situation, one of them was a French former navy soldier.

The source said they had planned to target a senior military official in the south of France next January.

People in France have reacted to the news of the arrests.

“Security measures… as usual, people who decide to do harm will always be one step ahead,” said Robert.

“No, I am not afraid, so I’m not afraid and then I live in a Paris suburb. I have got a cosmopolitan community around me. People are super nice so I really don’t feel afraid,” said Giselle, a passer by.

“I think that it is difficult to do more, given that those who perpetrate attacks are ready to die. I think it is very difficult to fight against this,” said Robert, another passer by.

Cazeneuve said security forces had now identified more than 18,500 people normally resident in France who were known to be involved in jihadist networks.

Of those, 500 are currently fighting with Islamists in Syria and Iraq.