He said Saudi intelligence agencies spoke of a threat to Europe, and "France in particular" from Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

France is already on high alert following warnings of possible attacks aimed at France, Germany and the UK.

The Saudi warning is the latest to put French security forces, and those of other European countries, on heightened alert.

Earlier in October, France warned its citizens travelling to Britain to be "extremely vigilant" amid fears of a possible attack.

A few days previously, Britain had raised its alert level from general to high for travellers to Germany and France.