French police commandos arrested 19 people suspected of radical Islamist activity in Friday morning raids in several cities including Toulouse, scene of the killings of seven people by an Al Qaeda-inspired gunman earlier this month.
President Nicolas Sarkozy, who is waging an uphill battle for re-election, said more raids would follow. "There will be further operations, allowing us to expel a number of people who have no business in the country," he said in an interview on Europe 1 radio.
Gunman Mohamed Merah was killed by police snipers just over a week ago after shooting dead three Jewish school children, a rabbi and three soldiers in attacks around Toulouse, turning internal security into a bigger campaign issue ahead of the presidential election.