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Brussels raid over Paris attacks: Dead gunman was Algerian national | Brussels raid over Paris attacks: Dead gunman was Algerian national |
(35 minutes later) | |
A terrorism suspect shot dead in a raid in a Brussels suburb on Tuesday has been identified as Algerian national Mohamed Belkaid, officials say. | A terrorism suspect shot dead in a raid in a Brussels suburb on Tuesday has been identified as Algerian national Mohamed Belkaid, officials say. |
He was killed by snipers while trying to fire at police from an apartment window in the suburb of Forest. | He was killed by snipers while trying to fire at police from an apartment window in the suburb of Forest. |
Several officers were wounded in the raid. Police are still hunting two suspects who were in the apartment. | Several officers were wounded in the raid. Police are still hunting two suspects who were in the apartment. |
The raid was linked to an investigation into the jihadist attacks in Paris that killed 130 people last November. | The raid was linked to an investigation into the jihadist attacks in Paris that killed 130 people last November. |
The so-called Islamic State (IS) militant group said it carried out the attacks. | The so-called Islamic State (IS) militant group said it carried out the attacks. |
According to the prosecutors' spokesman, an IS flag was recovered from the apartment raided on Tuesday, along with Salafist (ultra-conservative Islamic) literature and Kalashnikov ammunition. | According to the prosecutors' spokesman, an IS flag was recovered from the apartment raided on Tuesday, along with Salafist (ultra-conservative Islamic) literature and Kalashnikov ammunition. |
The spokesman told reporters that Belkaid was born in 1980 and had been living in Belgium illegally. He was not known to the authorities except for one case of robbery. | The spokesman told reporters that Belkaid was born in 1980 and had been living in Belgium illegally. He was not known to the authorities except for one case of robbery. |
Police went to search an apartment in Forest on Tuesday afternoon. | Police went to search an apartment in Forest on Tuesday afternoon. |
As they entered, they were fired upon by at least two occupants, the spokesman said. | |
While Belkaid was shot dead that evening, two suspects who were with him managed to escape and are now the subject of a police manhunt. | While Belkaid was shot dead that evening, two suspects who were with him managed to escape and are now the subject of a police manhunt. |
The spokesman said further searches were carried out near the apartment, and more ammunition was recovered. | The spokesman said further searches were carried out near the apartment, and more ammunition was recovered. |
He also mentioned that police were trying to establish whether two people they had taken into custody were linked to the earlier events in Forest. | He also mentioned that police were trying to establish whether two people they had taken into custody were linked to the earlier events in Forest. |
One of these was a man who was brought to a hospital in Halle on Tuesday evening, requiring treatment for a broken leg. The person who accompanied him fled as soon as police arrived. | One of these was a man who was brought to a hospital in Halle on Tuesday evening, requiring treatment for a broken leg. The person who accompanied him fled as soon as police arrived. |
The other person was detained at an address in Forest. | The other person was detained at an address in Forest. |
Much of Forest was under lockdown on Tuesday, including schools and kindergartens. | |
Belgium's De Standaard newspaper (in Dutch) quotes its sources as saying that investigators had been expecting to raid a safe house used in connection with the Paris attacks. | Belgium's De Standaard newspaper (in Dutch) quotes its sources as saying that investigators had been expecting to raid a safe house used in connection with the Paris attacks. |
They had not expected the flat to be occupied, as its water and electricity had been disconnected for some time. | They had not expected the flat to be occupied, as its water and electricity had been disconnected for some time. |
Officials have identified most of the people they believe to have carried out the assaults on 13 November - many of whom were based in Brussels. | |
Most of the suspects either died during the attacks or were killed in later police raids. | Most of the suspects either died during the attacks or were killed in later police raids. |
Parts of Brussels were sealed off for days after the Paris massacre amid fears of a major incident. Brussels police have carried out a series of raids. | |
French police also took part in Tuesday's operation in Brussels. One of the officers wounded in the raid was a French policewoman, officials said. | French police also took part in Tuesday's operation in Brussels. One of the officers wounded in the raid was a French policewoman, officials said. |