Paris ? Alerted by a cryptic warning of attacks unless France pulls its troops from Afghanistan, police found an old pack of dynamite sticks Tuesday in the restroom of a top Parisian department store.

The explosives at the Printemps store lacked detonators and the warning message didn’t fit the profile of Islamist groups like al-Qaida. Still, the discovery renewed concern over risks of terrorism, especially during the vulnerable holiday season.

Shoppers and employees were noticeably rattled and the scene was chaotic as police evacuated people from the department store in late morning. French television showed women clutching one another or crying as they left the store under a line of police tape.

Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie announced plans to tighten security in Paris and other large cities and called a meeting today with police chiefs, intelligence and transport officials and department store representatives.