2 detained after gas canisters found near Paris’ Notre Dame

French anti-terrorism police have launched an investigation after a auto full of six gas cylinders was found in Paris, near Notre Dame Cathedral, over the weekend, French daily Le Figaro reported Wednesday.

The Peugeot 607 was discovered abandoned at the weekend with its hazard lights flashing, the sources said.

Six canisters filled with gas were found in the boot and another empty one in the vehicle.

Suspicion of a plot to blow up the famous Paris cathedral of Notre Dame was raised by the discovery of a Peugot packed wityh gas cylinders nearby.

No detonators were present in the vehicle, which was found on a Seine riverside stretch called the Quai de Montebello, meters from the Notre-Dame cathedral.

The owner of the auto and another person, who are both known to security services, were arrested on Tuesday and antiterror investigators have launched a probe.

Bernard Cazeneuve, the interior minister, said in recent days that French security services had arrested seven terror suspects in the month of August, including three that were in the process of planning an attack.

The street is across the water from the Notre Dame cathedral.

In May, Patrick Calvar, the head of France’s DGSI internal security agency, said he was confident Isis would “reach the stage of vehicle bombs”.

Inside were at least six gas cylinders – although the tanks are not thought to have been connected to ant detonator – and a book in Arabic writing.

France is on alert after a deadly string of Islamic State group attacks and threats against landmarks.

More than 200 people have been killed in terror attacks over the past year and a half in France.