Mohammed Merah, the man who confessed to police that he killed 7 people in France before being shot dead in an armed standoff. Photo: screenshot via France 2.

Three Islamists who were suspected of planning an attack around the anniversary of the Toulouse shooting were arrested in southern France last week.

According to French prosecutors, police found weapons and explosives in one of the suspect’s homes in a town near Marseille. Police also intercepted communications between the men suggesting they were planning on going into action.

The arrest of the suspects comes amid the anniversary of the Toulouse terror attack carried out by Mohamed Merah, who killed three Jewish children and a rabbi.

“It was clear they were training themselves in making explosives based on a jihadist radicalization, a glorification of Mohamed Merah, and an affirmed desire to go into action,” a French prosecutor said, Reuters reported.

A memorial for the victims of the Toulouse shooting was attended by Israeli President Shimon Peres and French leaders on Sunday.