Police direct the traffic during the French presidential election in Henin-Beaumont,France, April 23, 2017. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)

PARIS, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Five people were arrested in anti-terrorist operation Tuesday in three French cities, which also seized heavy weapons, the French journal Le Figaro reported.

The arrests took place in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, in the north, Roanne in the Loire, and Rouen, prefecture of Seine-Maritime, the newspaper said.

Heavy weapons were also seized in the operation in Rouen, the report revealed.

The operation took place as part of a preliminary investigation by the Paris public prosecutor's office opened on March 8 and was conducted by the judicial police, according to the daily.