Two held over attack plot days ahead of French vote

French police on Tuesday arrested two men suspected of preparing an “imminent” attack, sources close to the probe said just days ahead of the first round of France's presidential vote.

The suspects, aged 23 and 29, were arrested by French domestic intelligence service agents in the southern city of Marseille, one of the sources said. Anti-EU, anti-immigration candidate Marine Le Pen has cast herself as the best defender against the jihadists who have killed over 230 people in France since 2015.

Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron, the 39-year-old europhile given the best chance of beating her in a run-off, are leading in opinion polls for the first round of the election on April 23, with around 22 to 24 percent each.

Radical leftist candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon and conservative ex-premier Francois Fillon have gained ground, transforming the election into a tight four-way race. The two leaders of the first round will go through to a runoff on May 7.