Terror Attack Plot on Church in France: 3 Held, Prime Suspect Identified By Police

Three terrorist suspects are in the custody of the French police after they were interrogated on suspicion that they were the accomplices of an Algerian man who is the prime suspect in the murder of a woman and a botched plot to attack a church in a Paris suburb.

Authorities have detained and placed under investigation the 24-year-old Algerian who was identified by the French newspaper Le Figaro as Sid Ahmed Ghlam.

Authorities said one of the three detainees was a 27-year-old man whose DNA was found in the Algerian suspect's house.

Ghlam was arrested by authorities on Sunday morning in Saint-Ouen, a suburb north of Paris. Forensic examination of hair on a brush that was found at his house showed that it belonged to one of the suspects.

Authorities also arrested another man Saturday whose DNA was found in the Algerian suspect's car, which would have been used to store weapons.

The third suspect is believed to have provided logistical support to the alleged terrorist.

Ghlam is suspected of plotting an attack on at least one church in Villejuif, near Paris, last April 19.

The body of Aurelie Chatelain, a 32-year-old woman, was found in his car.

Earlier this week, the chief prosecutor in Paris said a search of the Algerian suspect's phones and laptops revealed that he was in touch with another person, possibly in Syria, who had asked him to attack a church. Authorities have said they believe one or more attacks were imminent.

Several messages exchanged between the two men showed that Ghlam tried to back off from the plan, saying he didn't feel he was ready, Le Figaro said.

A woman, a convert to Islam, who was presented as Ghlam's current or former girlfriend, was taken into custody last Wednesday but was later released.

Ghlam's sister was quoted as saying that the women wanted to marry him but he didn't.

Evidence gathered by the police said the mother of two young kids participated in the Algerian's planned attack.

France remains on high alert three months after Islamist gunmen killed 17 people in attacks on the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish food store. Authorities said they have foiled five terrorist attacks since then.