French claim Islamic radicals were planning to launch chemical attack

THREE alleged Islamic radicals arrested by French counterintelligence agents had possession of unidentified chemicals they were planning to use in an attack, according to judicial officials and media reports yesterday.

The men, reportedly Algerians, were taken into custody on Monday in suburban Paris. They also had $5,000 in cash, a computer and Islamic propaganda documents, judicial officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The officials did not disclose the identity of the suspects but said it was believed they had spent time in training camps in Afghanistan and Chechnya.