French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for vigilance against terrorism following the discovery of explosives in a Paris department store.
Mr. Sarkozy said he will not compromise with terrorists. He spoke to reporters Tuesday at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
A group calling itself the Afghan Revolutionary Front is claiming responsibility for placing the explosives. It demanded that France withdraw its troops from Afghanistan by February.
French Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said the group is unknown to police.
The French news agency (AFP) says it alerted police after receiving a letter warning that bombs had been planted in the Printemps store in central Paris.
Officials say the store was evacuated and the police found the explosives in a bathroom.
Alliot-Marie said the explosives appeared relatively old and no detonators were attached.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
