Top fugitive in Paris attacks captured during Brussels raid

[rooster59]

Top fugitive in Paris attacks captured during Brussels raid

RAF CASERT, Associated Press
LORI HINNANT, Associated Press


BRUSSELS (AP) — Police raiding an apartment building captured Europe's most wanted fugitive Friday, arresting the prime suspect in last year's deadly Paris attacks in the same Brussels neighborhood where he grew up.

Hours later, the French president said more people were involved in the attacks than previously thought and predicted more arrests would follow.

Salah Abdeslam, 26, is a childhood friend of the suspected ringleader of the attacks. Investigators believe he drove a car carrying a group of gunmen who took part in the shootings.

After the bloodbath, he slipped through a dragnet to return to Brussels and eluded capture for four months, despite an international manhunt. He was believed to have slipped through police fingers at least once, possibly twice. At one point, Belgian authorities locked down their capital for several days but failed to find him.

His capture brought instant relief to police and ordinary people in France and Belgium who had been looking over their shoulder for Abdeslam since Nov. 13, when Islamic extremist attackers fanned out across the French capital and killed 130 people at a rock concert, the national stadium and cafes. It was France's deadliest attack in decades.

Abdeslam and four other suspects were detained in the raid, including three members of a family that sheltered him. Abdeslam was shot in the leg, officials said.

During Friday's police operation, a phalanx of officers in camouflage, masks and riot helmets marched through the neighborhood with guns and automatic weapons drawn, escorting people out of buildings.

A witness described hearing gunshots and officers repeatedly yelling over a loudspeaker to suspects holed up inside the apartment building.

Authorities first sealed off the neighborhood. Then police began shouting to a particular apartment, demanding that the occupants come out with their hands up, said Fatiha Hrika, a 39-year-old child-care worker who lives a few doors down from where the raid happened.

After shots were fired, she said, "they piled in. We heard noises all around. And that's when they pulled out the Salah (guy.) They put him to the ground."

She described seeing the suspect put into an ambulance followed by a SWAT team.

France's BFM television broadcast images of police tugging a man with a white hooded sweatshirt toward a police car, as he dragged his left leg as if it were injured.

Abdeslam was not armed but did not immediately obey orders when confronted by police, prosecutor Eric Van der Sypt said.

It was possible he had spent days, weeks or months in the apartment, according to Van der Sypt, who said the investigation would continue day and night.

French President Francois Hollande said authorities will need to detain anyone who aided the attacks in any way. He said those people are much more numerous than authorities had believed and that the French government would seek to have Abdeslam extradited.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel called Friday's arrests a success in the "fight against terrorism."

President Barack Obama congratulated the leaders of Belgium and France over the arrest, in phone calls with both men, the White House said in a statement.

Two other people believed linked to the attacks were still being sought, including fellow Molenbeek resident Mohamed Abrini and a man known under the alias of Soufiane Kayal.

Friday's capture of Abdeslam came after Belgian authorities said they found his fingerprints in an apartment raided earlier this week in another Brussels neighborhood.

In that raid, a man believed to have been an accomplice of Abdeslam — Mohamed Belkaid — was shot dead, Belgian prosecutors said. But two men escaped from the apartment, one of whom appears to have been Abdeslam.

Most of the Paris attackers died on the night of the attacks, including Abdeslam's brother Brahim, who blew himself up. Brahim Abdeslam was buried in the area Thursday.

Abdeslam's role in the attacks is not entirely clear. The car he drove was abandoned in northern Paris, and his mobile phone and an explosive vest he had apparently used were later found in the Paris suburb of Montrouge, raising the possibility that he aborted his mission, either ditching a malfunctioning vest or fleeing in fear.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks, in which Belgian nationals played key roles.

On Tuesday, a joint team of Belgian and French police showed up to search a residence in the Forest area of Brussels in connection with the Paris investigation. They were unexpectedly fired upon by at least two people inside. Four officers were slightly wounded.

An occupant of the residence was shot dead by a police sniper as he prepared to open fire on police from a window. Police identified him as Belkaid, 35, an Algerian national living illegally in Belgium.

A Kalashnikov assault rifle was found by his body, as well as a book on Salafism, an ultraconservative strain of Islam. Elsewhere in the apartment, police found an Islamic State banner as well as 11 Kalashnikov loaders and a large quantity of ammunition, the prosecutor said.

Belgian authorities initially said Belkaid had no known background in radical Islamic activities. But Friday afternoon, prosecutors issued a statement saying he was "most probably" an accomplice of Abdeslam who had been using a fake Belgian ID card in the name of Samir Bouzid.

A man using that ID card was one of the two men seen with Abdeslam in a rental car on the Hungarian-Austrian border in September.

Four days after the Paris attacks, the same false ID card was used to transfer 750 euros ($847) to Hasna Ait Boulahcen, cousin of Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the suspected ringleader. Both Ait Boulahcen and Abaaoud died afterward in a police siege.

In January, Belgian authorities said one of Abdeslam's fingerprints was found alongside homemade suicide bomb belts at an apartment in another area of Brussels. Belgian prosecutors said it wasn't known whether he had been at the address in the Schaerbeek district before or after the Paris attacks, or how long he had spent there.

-- (c) Associated Press 2016-03-19

[boomerangutang]

Good. And anyone at all associated with the Paris killers, if found guilty, should be stripped of citizenship.

[prestburypark]

How many more like this have arrived overland, with ATM cards, funded by whom? And Merkel has just defied European public opinion and said "no change" to her ruinaiton

of Europe policy:

http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/7644/germany-elections-migration-policy

Dire days ahead for Europe and the plague of Islam.

[silverado]

Good. And anyone at all associated with the Paris killers, if found guilty, should be stripped of citizenship.

"should"... yes !!!

but in brussels neighborood , there are lot of muslims who helped terrorists to hide and they will help again in the future...

As belgian, cannot really being proud of....

[silverado]

Good. And anyone at all associated with the Paris killers, if found guilty, should be stripped of citizenship.

"should"... yes !!!

but in brussels neighborood , there are lot of muslims who helped terrorists to hide and they will help again in the future...

As belgian, cannot really being proud of....

and be aware that the fugitive was hiding in an unoccupied home belonging to the city hall ... the city hall where the abdeslam's brother has an employee status....

Edited March 19, 2016 by silverado

[happy Joe]

Thank you !

[smedly]

Good. And anyone at all associated with the Paris killers, if found guilty, should be stripped of citizenship.

"should"... yes !!!

but in brussels neighborood , there are lot of muslims who helped terrorists to hide and they will help again in the future...

As belgian, cannot really being proud of....

That unfortunately is the problem, this whole neighbourhood seems to have been a safe sanctuary for these gutless cowards

[reggaebkk]

Good. And anyone at all associated with the Paris killers, if found guilty, should be stripped of citizenship.

"should"... yes !!!

but in brussels neighborood , there are lot of muslims who helped terrorists to hide and they will help again in the future...

As belgian, cannot really being proud of....

and be aware that the fugitive was hiding in an unoccupied home belonging to the city hall ... the city hall where the abdeslam's brother has an employee status....

Or maybe he solution is to stop being a banana republic for Israel and USA, remember that France has veto rights at the UN security council, stop stealing resources and land from muslim and African nations, stop destabilising economies and counties in the world.... What about that for a solution, rather than listen to the brainwashing media and blindly hate back...

[Steely Dan]

Found in the Islamic republic of Molenbeek I believe.

[nahkit]

Good. And anyone at all associated with the Paris killers, if found guilty, should be stripped of citizenship.

"should"... yes !!!

but in brussels neighborood , there are lot of muslims who helped terrorists to hide and they will help again in the future...

As belgian, cannot really being proud of....

and be aware that the fugitive was hiding in an unoccupied home belonging to the city hall ... the city hall where the abdeslam's brother has an employee status....

Or maybe he solution is to stop being a banana republic for Israel and USA, remember that France has veto rights at the UN security council, stop stealing resources and land from muslim and African nations, stop destabilising economies and counties in the world.... What about that for a solution, rather than listen to the brainwashing media and blindly hate back...

"stop stealing resources and land from muslim and African nations"

So you don't think that the West pays for the oil it receives?

Stealing land? What do they do, dig it up and transport it away on ships?

What planet are you on?

[DeaconJohn]

and be aware that the fugitive was hiding in an unoccupied home belonging to the city hall ... the city hall where the abdeslam's brother has an employee status....

Or maybe he solution is to stop being a banana republic for Israel and USA, remember that France has veto rights at the UN security council, stop stealing resources and land from muslim and African nations, stop destabilising economies and counties in the world.... What about that for a solution, rather than listen to the brainwashing media and blindly hate back...

"stop stealing resources and land from muslim and African nations"

So you don't think that the West pays for the oil it receives?

Stealing land? What do they do, dig it up and transport it away on ships?

What planet are you on?

He's on planet earth, and his logic is easy to understand.

No, the invaders don't dig up land and transport it away on ships - they bomb those countries back to the stone age.

Only a space cadet would fail to make a connection between that and the creation of terrorists and dangerous refugees.

[Thorgal]

Found in the Islamic republic of Molenbeek I believe.

Abdeslam Sallah has been found one month before the 13th November attacks in Paris smoking pot and drinking alcohol. Moreover he was known as an active gay and found in several gay bars just before the attacks in Brussels as a regular client.

Nothing about his lifestyle proves that he was a radical Islamist.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/salah-abdeslam-who-is-the-gay-isis-fighter-who-fled-the-paris-attacks-in-november-a6939476.html

Edited March 19, 2016 by Thorgal

[JemJem]

Put the guy in jail for the rest of his life, in solitary confinement !

[Steely Dan]

Found in the Islamic republic of Molenbeek I believe.

Abdeslam Sallah has been found one month before the 13th November attacks in Paris smoking pot and drinking alcohol. Moreover he was known as an active gay and found in several gay bars just before the attacks in Brussels as a regular client.

Nothing about his lifestyle proves that he was a radical Islamist.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/salah-abdeslam-who-is-the-gay-isis-fighter-who-fled-the-paris-attacks-in-november-a6939476.html

Nothing would, seeing as Jihaddists assume dispensation to act as the Kuffar does, providing they are actively engaged in jihad. The 9/11 hijackers are an example of this.

[boomerangutang]

and be aware that the fugitive was hiding in an unoccupied home belonging to the city hall ... the city hall where the abdeslam's brother has an employee status....

Or maybe he solution is to stop being a banana republic for Israel and USA, remember that France has veto rights at the UN security council, stop stealing resources and land from muslim and African nations, stop destabilising economies and counties in the world.... What about that for a solution, rather than listen to the brainwashing media and blindly hate back...

"stop stealing resources and land from muslim and African nations"

So you don't think that the West pays for the oil it receives?

Stealing land? What do they do, dig it up and transport it away on ships?

What planet are you on?

He's on planet earth, and his logic is easy to understand.

No, the invaders don't dig up land and transport it away on ships - they bomb those countries back to the stone age.

Only a space cadet would fail to make a connection between that and the creation of terrorists and dangerous refugees.

The Middle East is problematic in the best of times. Europeans and Americans don't want to incessantly pour resources into the M.E. to try and fix its never ending problems. Most of the M.East including N.Africa is either very bad or extremely bad at any given time. It's worse than the Stone Age. At least in the Stone age people didn't kill each other for no reason. Yet, that's what Arabs do. Oh, maybe they have a reason, but it's a ridiculous reason fueled by hate, frustration and jealousy - yes they are very jealous of Europe and the US, and that's why even Islamist terrorists would give their left nut and right kidney to be able to live in a free country. Look at what the Twin Tower bombers did before they bombed ......they enjoyed American lifestyles in the US, with dating, drinking, singing, dancing, doing and saying whatever they wanted.

[katana]

Riot police called in after the arrest of Salah Abdeslam in the newly declared Islamic republic of Molenbeek:

"...Tense scenes have broken out between locals and security forces in Molenbeek following the arrest of Salah Abdeslam with some residents reportedly “praising” the evil Paris terrorist. Riot police were called in to disperse the crowds who gathered in the Brussels suburb after missiles were thrown at the Belgian authorities. Tensions were sparked after young people from the troubled area started declaring their support for their “hero” Abdeslam, according to a witness.
An eyewitness posted on Twitter: “Great tension in Molenbeek with young people from the area praising their ‘hero’ Salah Abdeslam..."

Continued: http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/653818/Molenbeek-terror-raid-Paris-attacks-Salah-Abdeslam-Belgium-riot-police

Edited March 19, 2016 by katana

[nahkit]

and be aware that the fugitive was hiding in an unoccupied home belonging to the city hall ... the city hall where the abdeslam's brother has an employee status....

Or maybe he solution is to stop being a banana republic for Israel and USA, remember that France has veto rights at the UN security council, stop stealing resources and land from muslim and African nations, stop destabilising economies and counties in the world.... What about that for a solution, rather than listen to the brainwashing media and blindly hate back...

"stop stealing resources and land from muslim and African nations"

So you don't think that the West pays for the oil it receives?

Stealing land? What do they do, dig it up and transport it away on ships?

What planet are you on?

He's on planet earth, and his logic is easy to understand.

No, the invaders don't dig up land and transport it away on ships - they bomb those countries back to the stone age.

Only a space cadet would fail to make a connection between that and the creation of terrorists and dangerous refugees.

Salah Abdeslam, the subject of this report, was born in Brussels, Belgium.

When exactly did he experience being bombed "back to the stone age"?

[rooster59]

UPDATED: Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam charged with ‘terrorist murder’



Europe’s most wanted man, Salah Abdeslam has been charged with ‘terrorist murder’, the Belgian prosecutor has announced.

The suspect has admitted to being in Paris on the night of November 13 when several coordinated terrorist attacks claimed the lives of 130 people.

According to his lawyer he is cooperating with police but will refuse extradition to France.

Paris Prosecutor Francois Molins said that the suspect admitted he wanted to blow himself up at the Stade de France but then changed his mind. Molins said that a new European arrest warrant had been issued by France, effectively an extradition request by other means. He confirmed that Abdeslam’s removal from Belgium to France could happen within a matter of days or up to three months should the suspect appeal.
Full press conference on Salah Abdeslam’s arrest, from Paris prosecutor Francois Molins

Abdeslam was charged along with a second man detained alongside him on Friday. A third man detained at the same address named as Abid A was charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation. A woman was charged with aiding and abetting criminals but released and a second woman was released without charges.

A vital source

The first suspect to be taken alive, the information Abdeslam gives could provide vital insight into the ISIL terror group.

Security services will be looking for answers on ISIL’s plans and structures, Abdeslam’s contacts in Europe and Syria as well as his support networks and finances.

After four months on the run, the 26-year-old was finally captured during a raid on a flat in the Molenbeek area of Brussels on Friday.

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-03-20

[NeilSA1]

"According to his lawyer he is cooperating with police ..."

Looking at the photo I can understand why he is cooperating"
​

[SheungWan]

Riot police called in after the arrest of Salah Abdeslam in the newly declared Islamic republic of Molenbeek:

"...Tense scenes have broken out between locals and security forces in Molenbeek following the arrest of Salah Abdeslam with some residents reportedly “praising” the evil Paris terrorist. Riot police were called in to disperse the crowds who gathered in the Brussels suburb after missiles were thrown at the Belgian authorities. Tensions were sparked after young people from the troubled area started declaring their support for their “hero” Abdeslam, according to a witness.

An eyewitness posted on Twitter: “Great tension in Molenbeek with young people from the area praising their ‘hero’ Salah Abdeslam..."

Continued: http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/653818/Molenbeek-terror-raid-Paris-attacks-Salah-Abdeslam-Belgium-riot-police

Sort of goes against the isolated terrorist narrative wheeled out by forum cheerleaders. A lot more guys to be picked up to break the network.

[SheungWan]

Found in the Islamic republic of Molenbeek I believe.

Abdeslam Sallah has been found one month before the 13th November attacks in Paris smoking pot and drinking alcohol. Moreover he was known as an active gay and found in several gay bars just before the attacks in Brussels as a regular client.

Nothing about his lifestyle proves that he was a radical Islamist.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/salah-abdeslam-who-is-the-gay-isis-fighter-who-fled-the-paris-attacks-in-november-a6939476.html

As if that is a requirement. Have another go.

[Steely Dan]

Riot police called in after the arrest of Salah Abdeslam in the newly declared Islamic republic of Molenbeek:

"...Tense scenes have broken out between locals and security forces in Molenbeek following the arrest of Salah Abdeslam with some residents reportedly “praising” the evil Paris terrorist. Riot police were called in to disperse the crowds who gathered in the Brussels suburb after missiles were thrown at the Belgian authorities. Tensions were sparked after young people from the troubled area started declaring their support for their “hero” Abdeslam, according to a witness.

An eyewitness posted on Twitter: “Great tension in Molenbeek with young people from the area praising their ‘hero’ Salah Abdeslam..."

Continued: http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/653818/Molenbeek-terror-raid-Paris-attacks-Salah-Abdeslam-Belgium-riot-police

What a great service to Europe would be done by deporting every last culture enricher in Molenbeek.

[Thorgal]

Riot police called in after the arrest of Salah Abdeslam in the newly declared Islamic republic of Molenbeek:

"...Tense scenes have broken out between locals and security forces in Molenbeek following the arrest of Salah Abdeslam with some residents reportedly “praising” the evil Paris terrorist. Riot police were called in to disperse the crowds who gathered in the Brussels suburb after missiles were thrown at the Belgian authorities. Tensions were sparked after young people from the troubled area started declaring their support for their “hero” Abdeslam, according to a witness.

An eyewitness posted on Twitter: “Great tension in Molenbeek with young people from the area praising their ‘hero’ Salah Abdeslam..."

Continued: http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/653818/Molenbeek-terror-raid-Paris-attacks-Salah-Abdeslam-Belgium-riot-police

Another attempt from "The Express", an extreme right islamophobic media outlet who translated the Tweet completely in a biased format. As usual. We saw the same methods on another thread about "The sausage ban in Germany"...

According to the Belgian media outlets, no special arrests or protests have been reported. Many people from Molembeek witnessed instead their relief from the latest arrest and the latest positive outcome of the multiple crackdowns in the municipality from the Belgian law enforcement. Moreover, they're tired of the negative news coverage who went viral since last November attacks.

Last week, Islamophobic dutch Geert Wilders was having a speech for the local Flemish extreme right political party in which he declared that Molembeek is the 'Gaza' from Belgium...

For sure, it's a very good news to see the arrests of terrorist networks, but it will be interesting to discover the sponsors, the command and the related sub networks.

I rather prefer unbiased, non Islamophobic news coverage...and I've no problem that other people push a narrow and biased agenda...

Edited March 20, 2016 by Thorgal

[i claudius]

I am glad another terrorist is caught , it would be far better if all Muslims just went and lived away from the west , and to those who tell us not all Muslims want us dead , well my answer is ,not all cancers kill you , but i would much prefer not to have to live with it .

[Khon Kaen Dave]

Stripped of his citizenship.That will really teach him.How about,stripped of his citizenship,had the shit beaten out of him and given 40 years to boot.

[i claudius]

Riot police called in after the arrest of Salah Abdeslam in the newly declared Islamic republic of Molenbeek:

"...Tense scenes have broken out between locals and security forces in Molenbeek following the arrest of Salah Abdeslam with some residents reportedly “praising” the evil Paris terrorist. Riot police were called in to disperse the crowds who gathered in the Brussels suburb after missiles were thrown at the Belgian authorities. Tensions were sparked after young people from the troubled area started declaring their support for their “hero” Abdeslam, according to a witness.

An eyewitness posted on Twitter: “Great tension in Molenbeek with young people from the area praising their ‘hero’ Salah Abdeslam..."

Continued: http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/653818/Molenbeek-terror-raid-Paris-attacks-Salah-Abdeslam-Belgium-riot-police

Another attempt from "The Express", an extreme right islamophobic media outlet who translated the Tweet completely in a biased format. As usual. We saw the same methods on another thread about "The sausage ban in Germany"...

According to the Belgian media outlets, no special arrests or protests have been reported. Many people from Molembeek witnessed instead their relief from the latest arrest and the latest positive outcome of the multiple crackdowns in the municipality from the Belgian law enforcement. Moreover, they're tired of the negative news coverage who went viral since last November attacks.

Last week, Islamophobic dutch Geert Wilders was having a speech for the local Flemish extreme right political party in which he declared that Molembeek is the 'Gaza' from Belgium...

For sure, it's a very good news to see the arrests of terrorist networks, but it will be interesting to discover the sponsors, the command and the related sub networks.

I rather prefer unbiased, non Islamophobic news coverage...and I've no problem that other people push a narrow and biased agenda...

Biased? Even the left wing ,BBC reported the rioting,and CNN are reporting it as I type, so don't bother trying to cover for them

[stickylies]

Dont be too hard for Belgium. It's the centre of europe with a large number of Muslims mainly from the Rif Berbers type. Rif Berbers aren't the easiest Muslims/people to deal with. They protect their own 'tribe', its a tradition, even when they completely disagree with bad acts. The lack of education in berber communities results in social problems mainly with the spoiled and macho males. I used to visit Nador in Morocco a lot. Its a very conservative and very closed society there, totally different than Arab Casablanca fir example. These berbers also had close to zero rights under previous morocco king. They were treated like pariahs, did not get jobs and were harassed to look for work abroad... History is always complexer than u think.

[boomerangutang]

It sounds like Belgian police are doing a good job. I would have thought a stray bullet (oops, accident, sorry.) killing the fugitive would have been appropriate. Taking him alive may fuel the fringe Muslims in Belgium, wanting to make him a hero. That's the reason Bin Laden's body was dumped at sea; US didn't want his burial place to become a pilgrimage site for Muslims. It doesn't take much for Muslims to make heroes. Libyans made a hero out of one of the Lockerbie bombers. Belgian officials let two Muslim women (who were found at the site of the terrorist) off too easily. That's similar to what Scottish authorities did, when they let the Lockerbie bomber out of prison - return to his country, a hero. European authorities have to learn to not be so nice. If there's a raging bear at the door of your house, you're not going to wake your kids to go out to pet it, are you? Like the expression, "fight fire with fire" - Europeans have to come down like a ton of bricks, not just on terrorists, but also on any person over 15 years old who aids them. That includes people who house them, feed them, clean their houses, give them sex, drive them around. Anyone who knows the whereabouts of a terrorist and doesn't report it to authorities, should be dealt with harshly by law enforcement.

It reminds me of the Iranian woman who was in Bangkok, assisting the Iranian men who made bombs and tossed a few of them in downtown Bkk (one idiot blew his own legs off). The woman was allowed to leave Thailand after the bombings, without even being detained. What is it about law enforcement that they have such problems apprehending a female. Women can be just as deadly as men if they so choose. Don't let women suspects go free just because they're female.