Two men were arrested during the night of 10 March 2026 near the Longuenesse Prison in northern France after police discovered a loaded handgun, an ISIS flag, and chemicals that could be used to manufacture explosives in their vehicle.
The case is now being investigated by France’s national counterterrorism authorities.
Suspicious vehicle near the prison
Police patrol officers were alerted and arrived at the scene around 4:00 a.m., where they spotted a suspicious car parked less than 300 meters from the prison.
Inside the vehicle were two men. During the search, officers found:
- a loaded handgun and ammunition in the glove compartment
- a flag of the Islamic State
- several chemical products, including hydrochloric acid and aluminum, substances that can be used in explosive devices
The suspects were immediately arrested and placed in custody.
National anti-terror investigation opened
France’s Parquet national antiterroriste (PNAT) opened an investigation for:
- criminal terrorist conspiracy
- illegal possession of a weapon linked to a terrorist enterprise
The inquiry is being conducted by:
- the Sous-direction antiterroriste (SDAT)
- the Direction générale de la sécurité intérieure (DGSI)
- the regional police command of northern France
Possible prison connection under investigation
Investigators are also examining whether the suspects were connected to a drone spotted near the prison during the same night, and whether equipment may have been delivered inside the facility.
Specialized prison security units, including the Équipes régionales d’intervention et de sécurité (ERIS), supported by police dog teams, carried out a large-scale search of the prison.
A total of 39 cells were inspected. Authorities found mobile phones and drugs, but no items directly linked to the suspected plot.
Prison staff warn of growing security risks
Prison unions said the situation could have been extremely serious. The CGT prison union stated that the facility had “come close to the worst,” while FO Justice warned that prisons and prison staff are increasingly becoming targets.
Investigators are now trying to determine the exact intentions of the suspects and whether Longuenesse prison was the intended target of a planned attack or operation.
