Media conflicted on claim 2 Kuwaitis among 5 held in bid for Kalashnikovs

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KUWAIT CITY, Sept 15 (Agencies): The French security authorities are holding five men — two Kuwaitis and three Syrians – for interrogation after accusing them of seeking to purchase several Kalashnikov assault rifles for unclear purposes, according to French radio network RTL.

The report which has been confirmed by French weekly magazine L’Express and news agency AFP said the five men are in detention in the Latin Quarter of Paris. L’Express and RTL said all five men are Syrian but according to AFP “three are Syrians and two Kuwaitis.”

Meanwhile, Reuters also reported two Kuwaitis were arrested suspected of trying to buy assault rifles. A source said there was no sign of a link to terrorism at this stage. In addition to the planned purchase of arms, police have reportedly seized from the group photos taken of the nearby Sacred Heart Cathedral — one of the busiest and well-known tourist sites in the city.

The group has yet to be charged since no arms were found in their possession when they were detained. It is noteworthy to mention France has been on high alert following repeated attacks over the last two years.

Last November, suicide bombers and gunmen armed with Kalashnikov rifles went on a rampage killing 130 people in Paris, in a spate of attacks which prompted the government to declare a state of emergency, which was extended after an attack in Nice in July 2016.

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