Two Syrian nationals were arrested in Geneva today and traces of explosives were found in their car, the city's daily Tribune de Geneve and Swiss television said.

The newspaper gave no details on the identity of the two men or the circumstances of their arrest and said that it was not clear whether there was any link with the heightened security alert launched by Geneva authorities yesterday.

Swiss President President Simonetta Sommaruga said earlier today that  federal authorities put Geneva on a high security alert this week after getting a tip from foreign authorities about a suspected Islamic State cell in the region.

"The Swiss government received information from a foreign authority regarding a potential IS cell in the Geneva area. Federal authorities examined this information and shared it with the local police," Sommaruga told a news conference.

"There is currently no indication that there was a concrete attack planned."

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