Burundi's Intelligence service has arrested the brother of Bertrand Nzohabonayo, a man who was shot dead after attacking a police station in France.

Nzohabonayo (20), a French citizen of Burundian descent, was on Saturday shot dead after attacking a police station in Joue-les-tours in France with a knife injuring three officers. At the time, his brother Brice Nzohabonayo was visiting family in Burundi's capital Bujumbura.

“Brice Nzohabonayo is currently detained for further investigation since he was much closer and used to travel together with his brother to Burundi recently,” a statement from Burundi’s intelligence service read after his detention on Monday.

Terrorism fears

The development comes in the wake of a Burundi police statement in October confirming that some Burundian nationals were in contact with members of the Al-Shabab terror group.

"The police just discovered with the joint network of information that there are Burundians who are in contact with suspected terrorist networks indoctrination, we have already arrested two suspects for more detailed investigation ", Burundi Police spokesman Heménégilde Harimenshi said earlier this year during a press conference. He also noted that terrorist circles were using veiled recruited methods to target unsuspecting potential recruits.

Burundi has so far received numerous attack threats from Al-shabaab militants due to the country’s continued presence in peace keeping mission (Amisom) in Somalia.

The US and Belgian embassies in October warned their citizens to limit their travels and stays in the country by issuing travel warnings of a possible attack by the Al Shabaab militants in the country

READ: US warns against Burundi travel amid Al Shabaab threat

Since 2007, Burundi has provided the second largest contingent of officers (5,432 troops) to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Bujumbura has so far sent six battalions to Somalia with three deputy force commanders including the former AMISOM force commander Lt. General Silas Ntigurirwa who this month ended his tenure as AMISOM commander.

READ: Uganda, Burundi lead East Africa in military spending

ALSO READ: Nkurunziza visits Burundi peacekeepers in Somalia