Page 7 - ATODAY
P. 7
A8
U.S. NEWSMonday 21 March 2016
Paris attacks suspect reported to be planning new acts
LORNE COOK special federal police he would fight any attempt
Associated Press to hand over his client and
BRUSSELS (AP) — The top unit, Roland Pacolet, told that investigators have
suspect in last year’s Paris much to learn from the
attacks told investigators broadcaster RTL that one suspect, who was born in
after he was captured Belgium but has French
that he was planning new hypothesis being studied and Moroccan nationality.
operations from Brussels “Salah is of great
and possibly had access by police was that the importance to this
to several weapons, investigation. I would even
Belgium’s foreign minister suspect wanted to commit say that he is worth gold.
said Sunday. He is cooperating, he is
Salah Abdeslam had suicide. communicating, he is
claimed that “he was ready not insisting on his right to
to restart something from “When someone comes silence. I think it would be
Brussels, and it’s maybe worthwhile now to give
the reality,” Foreign Minister out running toward the things a bit of time ... for
Didier Reynders said. investigators to be able to
Reynders gave credence police, we have to ask talk to him,” Mary said.
to the suspect’s claim In response, an official
because “we found a lot of ourselves some questions. in the Paris prosecutor’s
weapons, heavy weapons office said French law
in the first investigations, What did he have in mind? allows prosecutors to speak
and we have seen a new about elements of an
network of people around What was he going to do? investigation. The official
him in Brussels.” spoke on condition of
Abdeslam, captured Friday Either he wanted to get anonymity because they
in a police raid in Brussels, were not allowed to discuss
was charged Saturday killed by the police, or he this issue publicly.
with “terrorist murder” by Belgian Justice Minister
Belgian authorities. He is a wanted to blow himself up Koen Geens was cautious
top suspect in the Nov. 13 about how the legal
attacks in Paris that left 130 near the police,” Pacolet proceedings will unfold
people dead. against the suspect, but
Abdeslam was wounded said. In this framegrab taken from VTM, something appears to drop said the kind of extradition
during the raid, and a senior from inside the trouser leg of Salah Abdeslam, centre, as he is procedure being used
Belgian police official said He said that Abdeslam was arrested by police and bundled into a police vehicle during a would limit the possibilities
that he was shot in the leg raid in the Molenbeek neighborhood of Brussels, Belgium, Friday for Abdeslam to appeal.
as he ran toward officers unarmed. March 18, 2016. “It could take two months,
outside an apartment in the two and a half months, and
Molenbeek neighborhood. Speaking to security experts Associated Press we will not be certain of the
The head of Belgium’s result before then,” q
at a German Marshall Fund
conference in Brussels, the
foreign minister said “we agency recommended public broadcaster
have found more than closer checks at borders, RTBF that part of the
30 people involved in the especially for stolen press conference given
terrorist attacks in Paris, but passports. Many of the on Saturday by Paris
we are sure that there are Nov. 13 attackers and prosecutor Francois Molins
others.” accomplices traveled “is a violation. It’s a fault,
Reynders urged European on falsified or stolen and I cannot let it go
intelligence, law documents unchallenged.”
enforcement, and border Abdeslam’s Belgian lawyer, Molins said Abdeslam, 26,
authorities to exchange meanwhile, threatened told Belgian officials he had
more information to help to launch legal action “wanted to blow himself up
track the suspects down. Monday against a French at the Stade de France” as
Interpol also has called prosecutor, accusing a suicide bomber, but that
on European countries him of breaching the he backed out at the last
to be vigilant at their confidentiality of the minute.
borders, saying Abdeslam’s investigation into the France is seeking
accomplices may try to deadly rampage in Paris. Abdeslam’s extradition for
flee after his capture. Sven Mary told Belgian trial there, but Mary said
The international police
