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Paris attackers linked in Morocco arrest | Paris attackers linked in Morocco arrest |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Morocco says it has arrested a Belgian of Moroccan descent with direct links to the Islamist gunmen and bombers who carried out the Paris attacks. | Morocco says it has arrested a Belgian of Moroccan descent with direct links to the Islamist gunmen and bombers who carried out the Paris attacks. |
The man was detained near Casablanca on Friday, the interior ministry said, and had travelled from Syria via Turkey, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. | The man was detained near Casablanca on Friday, the interior ministry said, and had travelled from Syria via Turkey, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. |
He had fought in Syria with al-Nusra front before joining so-called Islamic State, Morocco said. | He had fought in Syria with al-Nusra front before joining so-called Islamic State, Morocco said. |
The Paris attacks of 13 November killed 130 people. | The Paris attacks of 13 November killed 130 people. |
They are believed to have been at least partly planned in Brussels, and Belgian police have arrested several people as part of their investigation. | They are believed to have been at least partly planned in Brussels, and Belgian police have arrested several people as part of their investigation. |
Who were the Paris attackers? | Who were the Paris attackers? |
Paris attacks: Who were the victims? | Paris attacks: Who were the victims? |
Paris attacks: What happened on the night | Paris attacks: What happened on the night |
The Moroccan interior ministry's statement did not name the suspect, but said the man, arrested in Mohammediya, had travelled to Syria "with one of the suicide bombers of Saint-Denis". | |
Belgian prosecutors quoted by Belgium's Le Soir newspaper later identified the suspect as Gelel Attar, 26. | |
French police raided a flat in the Saint-Denis district of Paris five days after the attacks, searching for the suspected ringleader, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a Belgian national. He and his cousin Hasna Aitboulahcen died in a fierce gun battle during the raid. | French police raided a flat in the Saint-Denis district of Paris five days after the attacks, searching for the suspected ringleader, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a Belgian national. He and his cousin Hasna Aitboulahcen died in a fierce gun battle during the raid. |
A third person who died during the raid, detonating a suicide bomb, was named by the Paris prosecutor's office last week as Chakib Akrouh, a Belgian-Moroccan national, born in Belgium in 1990. He was identified using DNA from his mother. | A third person who died during the raid, detonating a suicide bomb, was named by the Paris prosecutor's office last week as Chakib Akrouh, a Belgian-Moroccan national, born in Belgium in 1990. He was identified using DNA from his mother. |
Both Akrouh and Abaaoud had spent time in Syria. | Both Akrouh and Abaaoud had spent time in Syria. |
The Moroccan statement said the arrested man had "built solid ties with IS leaders, including the ringleader of the Paris attacks". | The Moroccan statement said the arrested man had "built solid ties with IS leaders, including the ringleader of the Paris attacks". |
He would stand trial once investigations finish, it added. | He would stand trial once investigations finish, it added. |
Paris prosecutors would not comment on the arrest. | Paris prosecutors would not comment on the arrest. |
The focus of the international manhunt remains Frenchman Salah Abdeslam, who is suspected of taking part in the attacks and is still on the run. | The focus of the international manhunt remains Frenchman Salah Abdeslam, who is suspected of taking part in the attacks and is still on the run. |