A 68-year-old man has been arrested by French police on suspicion of murdering 18 people, most of them homosexuals, between 1980 and 2002, officials say.
The suspect, Nicolas Panard, is alleged to have killed 11 people in the Alsace region, four others in neighbouring Franche-Comte, and three near Paris.
Mr Panard was detained on Tuesday in the eastern Alsace city of Mulhouse.
His alleged accomplice, Slim Fezzani, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for a separate murder.
Several other people are also wanted in connection with the case.
Police said Mr Panard and Mr Fezzani were currently being questioned by police in the Franche-Comte town of Montbeliard.
The deputy state prosecutor of Montbeliard, Jean-Marc Gervason, told the news agency that the two men had denied the accusations and that there was "no formal proof" linking them to the crimes.
Mr Gervason said more information would become available on Thursday afternoon, when he is due to hold a news conference.
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