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Paris attacks: Salah Abdeslam 'changed suicide bomb plan' | Paris attacks: Salah Abdeslam 'changed suicide bomb plan' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam has admitted he wanted to blow himself up but then changed his mind, a French prosecutor says. | Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam has admitted he wanted to blow himself up but then changed his mind, a French prosecutor says. |
Abdeslam has been charged with terrorism offences in Belgium a day after he was seized in a dramatic raid. | Abdeslam has been charged with terrorism offences in Belgium a day after he was seized in a dramatic raid. |
Abdeslam will fight extradition to France but has been co-operating with police, his lawyer says. | Abdeslam will fight extradition to France but has been co-operating with police, his lawyer says. |
The Paris attacks in November left 130 people dead and dozens injured. | The Paris attacks in November left 130 people dead and dozens injured. |
The so-called Islamic State (IS) group said it was behind the bombings and shootings. | The so-called Islamic State (IS) group said it was behind the bombings and shootings. |
Abdeslam is charged with participation in terrorist murder and the activities of a terrorist group, Belgium's federal prosecutor's office says. | Abdeslam is charged with participation in terrorist murder and the activities of a terrorist group, Belgium's federal prosecutor's office says. |
Paris prosecutor Francois Molins told a news conference: "Salah Abdeslam today during questioning by [Belgian] investigators affirmed that, and I quote, 'he wanted to blow himself up at the Stade de France and that he had backed down'." | Paris prosecutor Francois Molins told a news conference: "Salah Abdeslam today during questioning by [Belgian] investigators affirmed that, and I quote, 'he wanted to blow himself up at the Stade de France and that he had backed down'." |
Abdeslam's assertions should be treated with caution, he added. | Abdeslam's assertions should be treated with caution, he added. |
The 26-year-old French national, born in Belgium, is in custody following his arrest in Brussels on Friday after four months on the run. | |
Investigators hope Abdeslam, who was shot in the leg during his arrest, will reveal more information about the IS network behind the Paris attacks, its financing and plans. | Investigators hope Abdeslam, who was shot in the leg during his arrest, will reveal more information about the IS network behind the Paris attacks, its financing and plans. |
They believe he helped with logistics, including renting rooms and driving suicide bombers to the Stade de France. | |
Abdeslam is believed to have fled shortly after the attacks, returning to the Molenbeek district of Brussels. | Abdeslam is believed to have fled shortly after the attacks, returning to the Molenbeek district of Brussels. |
Molenbeek raid: As it happened | Molenbeek raid: As it happened |
Salah Abdeslam's luck runs out | Salah Abdeslam's luck runs out |
Is Molenbeek a haven for Belgian jihadis? | Is Molenbeek a haven for Belgian jihadis? |
Interpol has meanwhile urged "extra vigilance" at borders following Friday's Brussels raid, saying more accomplices may try to flee Europe. | Interpol has meanwhile urged "extra vigilance" at borders following Friday's Brussels raid, saying more accomplices may try to flee Europe. |
Manhunt | Manhunt |
The subject of a massive manhunt, Salah Abdeslam was arrested about 500m (1,600ft) from his home in Molenbeek. His brother, Brahim, was one of the Paris attackers, who blew himself up. | The subject of a massive manhunt, Salah Abdeslam was arrested about 500m (1,600ft) from his home in Molenbeek. His brother, Brahim, was one of the Paris attackers, who blew himself up. |
Another man arrested at the same time as Salah Abdeslam on Friday, Monir Ahmed Alaaj, has also been charged with participation in terrorist murder and the activities of a terrorist group, the Belgian prosecutors say. | Another man arrested at the same time as Salah Abdeslam on Friday, Monir Ahmed Alaaj, has also been charged with participation in terrorist murder and the activities of a terrorist group, the Belgian prosecutors say. |
Friday's raid also saw three members of a family detained. | Friday's raid also saw three members of a family detained. |
They include Abid Aberkan, described as a friend of Abdeslam, who has been charged with participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation and harbouring criminals. | They include Abid Aberkan, described as a friend of Abdeslam, who has been charged with participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation and harbouring criminals. |
Another family member, identified as Djemila M, has been charged with harbouring criminals, but is not in custody, the prosecutor's office says. | Another family member, identified as Djemila M, has been charged with harbouring criminals, but is not in custody, the prosecutor's office says. |
Abid Aberkan's mother, Sihane, has been freed and faces no charges. | Abid Aberkan's mother, Sihane, has been freed and faces no charges. |
Fingerprints | Fingerprints |
The raid came after Abdeslam's fingerprints were found in a flat in another Brussels district, Forest, raided on Tuesday. | The raid came after Abdeslam's fingerprints were found in a flat in another Brussels district, Forest, raided on Tuesday. |
Dramatic footage showed Abdeslam being bundled into a police car on Friday after a volley of gunfire. Alaaj was also injured during the arrests, but both suspects were discharged from hospital on Saturday. | Dramatic footage showed Abdeslam being bundled into a police car on Friday after a volley of gunfire. Alaaj was also injured during the arrests, but both suspects were discharged from hospital on Saturday. |
French President Francois Hollande said Abdeslam's arrest was "an important moment". | French President Francois Hollande said Abdeslam's arrest was "an important moment". |
"The battle against terrorism does not end tonight, even though this is a victory," Mr Hollande told a news conference on Friday with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel. | "The battle against terrorism does not end tonight, even though this is a victory," Mr Hollande told a news conference on Friday with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel. |
"We must catch all those who allowed, organised or facilitated these attacks and we realise that they are a lot more numerous than we thought earlier and had identified," he said. | "We must catch all those who allowed, organised or facilitated these attacks and we realise that they are a lot more numerous than we thought earlier and had identified," he said. |
Prosecutors said Alaaj had travelled with Abdeslam to Germany last October, where his fingerprints were taken during an identity check. | Prosecutors said Alaaj had travelled with Abdeslam to Germany last October, where his fingerprints were taken during an identity check. |
A false Syrian passport in Alaaj's name and Belgian identity papers under an alias were found in a flat in Forest raided on Tuesday. | A false Syrian passport in Alaaj's name and Belgian identity papers under an alias were found in a flat in Forest raided on Tuesday. |
More details have meanwhile emerged about an Algerian national, Mohamed Belkaid, shot dead in Tuesday's raid. | More details have meanwhile emerged about an Algerian national, Mohamed Belkaid, shot dead in Tuesday's raid. |
Associated Press says it has been passed documents by the Syrian opposition news site, Zaman al-Wasl, suggesting he joined IS in 2014 and asked to be a suicide bomber. | Associated Press says it has been passed documents by the Syrian opposition news site, Zaman al-Wasl, suggesting he joined IS in 2014 and asked to be a suicide bomber. |
Belgian investigators say he is likely to have been an associate of Abdeslam. | Belgian investigators say he is likely to have been an associate of Abdeslam. |
Along with the Stade de France, the Paris bombings and shootings targeted the Bataclan concert hall and bars and restaurants. | Along with the Stade de France, the Paris bombings and shootings targeted the Bataclan concert hall and bars and restaurants. |
Officials have identified most of the people they believe to have carried out the assaults and on Friday Mr Hollande predicted that more arrests could follow. | Officials have identified most of the people they believe to have carried out the assaults and on Friday Mr Hollande predicted that more arrests could follow. |
Most of the suspects either died during the attacks or were killed in subsequent police raids. | Most of the suspects either died during the attacks or were killed in subsequent police raids. |