A suspected terror cell composed of young men from northern France has been dismantled by authorities following intelligence about a planned suicide bombing.

Three individuals aged between 19 and 24 were arrested on Wednesday in the Lille and Dunkirk areas. Two are accused of preparing attacks using explosives, similar to the November 2015 Paris bombings, while the third is suspected of having knowledge of the plans without reporting them.

According to Le Parisien, two of the suspects remain in custody while the third has been placed under judicial supervision. France’s National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed the arrests.

The investigation began after someone close to the suspects alerted authorities. The probe swiftly led investigators to a 19-year-old who was already known to police. French broadcaster RTL reported that the man had previously posted images of himself with firearms on social media and was believed to have aligned himself with a jihadist group.

During searches, investigators found partially assembled explosive vests, one of which was fitted with metal pellets and believed to have been a test device. A written declaration was also recovered, in which the suspects claimed allegiance to the so-called Islamic State.

One of the men reportedly stated on Snapchat that he wished to “drown in the blood of the infidels”, according to Le Parisien.

The investigation remains ongoing.