A "police operation" began around 11 pm local time and continued until around 1:30 am when operations began winding down. Police ordered people on the scene to run from the area, according to social media reports.
One witness told AP that upon exiting his train, "there were police immediately, and a chap with his hand on his gun… As we were walking down the platform, one [police officer] said, 'Rapide, rapide. Out, out.'" A police spokeswoman declined to comment on whether anyone was injured or arrested.
The Paris police's press service said on Twitter that the law enforcement officers had been looking for "three men, posing a threat," who had allegedly arrived in Paris on one of the high-speed trains. The three men — Zabiullah Sarwari, Bilal al-Marchohi and Tarik Jadaoun — have been declared wanted in relation to terrorism. Sarwari hails from Afghanistan while al-Marchohi and Jadaoun are Belgian citizens.
French police told Sputnik "all of France is aware" that the men may pose a terror risk. Belgian news outlet VTM Nieuws reported May 7 that all three are "known IS [Daesh] fighters" who recently arrived in Europe from Syria. Just in January, Jadoun was in Mosul, Iraq.
On May 6, French police received notice that three men were suspected of "preparing acts of terrorism" ahead of the presidential elections that took place on Sunday.
— Dave James Phillips (@DJPCX) May 8, 2017
Passengers were evacuated while law enforcement units worked to settle the situation. Police received a tip that Sarwari, al Marchohi and Jadaoun were seen in Paris, which seems to be the rationale for the police operation. The tipster indicated that the men were also seen in Bordeaux and Marseille.
— Remy Buisine (@RemyBuisine) May 8, 2017
Security units were dispatched to "dispel any doubt" regarding the prospect of imminent danger inside the train station.
— Pamela Moore (@Pamela_Moore13) May 8, 2017
The Research and Intervention Brigade was dispatched by the French police, which is often referred to as the "anti-gang brigade."
Police officials told French journalists the operation was in effect "for verification." The potential threat came from an inbound "train coming from Valenciennes," a town in northern France.
UPDATE: The police operation has ended, and "the situation returns to normal," according to a police report.
