Foiled Paris attack 'was directed by IS'

Security has been stepped up at Notre Dame after the discovery of the suspect vehicle

Three women arrested over a foiled attack in Paris were directed by so-called Islamic State (IS) from Syria, a French prosecutor has said.

The group "wanted to make the women into fighters", Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said.
A policeman was stabbed during an operation late on Thursday to arrest the women, after the discovery of a suspect car containing gas canisters.

Syria conflict: IS claims wave of bombings that kills dozens

Two explosions hit the Arzoneh motorway bridge at the entrance to Tartous

Four attacks took place within an hour in Tartous, Homs and in a suburb of Damascus, with one in Hassakeh, which is dominated by Kurdish forces.At least 40 people have been killed in bombings in mainly government-held areas of Syria, state media report.

The deadliest incident was outside Tartous, home to a Russian naval base and in the heartland of President Bashar al-Assad's Alawite sect.

The Islamic State (IS) group said it was behind the attacks.