Three of those detained have links to a French man arrested in Italy early last month, whose extradition France has requested, police said. Two of them were arrested in Marseille and the third was arrested in Bordeaux.

The nine other arrests happened throughout southern France, including some in Marseille and at least one in Avignon, police said.

Marseille police said the nine have links to an Islamist movement and were suspected of trying to obtain arms and explosives.

It was unclear whether those arrested were French citizens.

None of them has been charged. Under French law, police have six days to question them before charges must be filed.

Italian police said last month they detained a French citizen of Algerian origin suspected of being a member of the terror group al Qaeda. He was arrested by Italian police in Naples on a European arrest warrant requested by France, the Naples chief prosecutor said at the time.

Didier Allard of the Palais de Justice appeals court identified the man as Riahd Hennouni and said an anti-terror judge in Paris had requested his arrest. France requested his extradition from Italy, Allard said.