PARIS, July 15, 2008 (AFP) - French police on Tuesday questioned a journalist and searched the offices of an automobile magazine after Renault lodged a complaint for industrial espionage, a source close to the case said.

The magazine Auto Plus has published over the past months several photographs of car models being developed by automaker Renault.

Dozens of police officers seized computers, hard discs and photographs during a search at the magazine's offices in Paris, said chief editor Laurent Chiapello.

'One of our journalists has been held for questioning. We don't know exactly what the allegations are at this stage,' said Chiapello.

Police arrived at the magazine's offices after picking up the journalist who has been arrested in the case of industrial espionage.