Police detained six people near Paris who are suspected of plotting terrorist attacks in France, and prosecutors say they are members of a militant Islamic cell.

The six are being interviewed by anti-terrorist investigators, said prosecutors in Paris on Tuesday, The Associated Press reported.

Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre, a spokeswoman with the Paris office, said the six were taken into custody on Monday and under Paris law could be held up to four days.

France has been in high alert for months. Terrorism threats have been heightened since the nation sent troops into Mali to help government officials fight off al-Qaeda-linked terrorists who were trying to take over much of the country.

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