French authorities arrest 11 suspected neo-Nazis

PARIS – France's interior minister says 11 suspected members of a neo-Nazi group have been arrested.

The members of the group, who allegedly were spreading racist messages, were arrested Wednesday in an investigation of "criminal association" and "participation to a combatant group", Bernard Cazeneuve said Friday in a written statement.

Cazeneuve says 11 rifles, two guns, 28 knives, some bullet-proof vests and helmets and several Nazi flags were among the items seized during police raids in eight regions of France.

The statement says the three "most active members" of the group were brought before a judge Friday to be charged.