French police have arrested seven suspected radical Islamists in the eastern city of Besancon, French radio reported.

The radio said all those arrested were French nationals whom the police had been tracking for some time. It said they had been spotted doing military-type exercises in woodland, with high-calibre guns and wearing camouflage, however it was not yet certain that they had links to militant Islamist groups.

There was no immediate confirmation from local police.

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