Police in southern France arrested a young man celebrating Halloween early on Tuesday after passers-by alerted them
to a menacing figure brandishing a rifle and shouting “Allahu Akbar” — Arabic for 'God is greatest'.
The rifle turned out to be fake and the 26-year-old suspect, who was dressed in black and khaki, told investigators he didn't understand what the problem was, a police source in the southern city of Toulouse said.
The youth said he had just dressed up for a night out, telling investigators: “You can do anything on Halloween”.
French police and citizens are on high alert after a series of deadly attacks by Islamic extremists over the past two years, which claimed more than 200 lives.
Last year police officers in southern France banned locals from wearing “dangerous” costume accessories for Halloween after a boy dressed as Mr T sparked a terror scare.
The officers have said that any outfit that includes a fake firearm is unacceptable.
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