French minister calls terror threat 'real'

France's interior minister said the risk of a terrorist attack against the country is "real," even as he downplayed al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden's threats against French citizens.

Brice Hortefeux, speaking Wednesday hours after the bin Laden audio was posted, said bin Laden's threats to kill French nationals "would fit into the pattern of different threats that have already been made against our country and our citizens." Hortefeux said French authorities' "vigilance is complete."