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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Paris suspect Salah Abdeslam 'wants transfer to France ASAP' | Paris suspect Salah Abdeslam 'wants transfer to France ASAP' |
| (5 months later) | |
| Salah Abdeslam, the leading suspect in November’s Paris attacks, wants to be transferred to France as soon as possible to face charges there, his lawyer has said. | Salah Abdeslam, the leading suspect in November’s Paris attacks, wants to be transferred to France as soon as possible to face charges there, his lawyer has said. |
| Abdeslam has been been held in a high security jail since his arrest at a Brussels flat on Friday, four days before suicide bombers struck a Brussels airport and metro in the most devastating attacks in Belgian history. | Abdeslam has been been held in a high security jail since his arrest at a Brussels flat on Friday, four days before suicide bombers struck a Brussels airport and metro in the most devastating attacks in Belgian history. |
| The 26-year-old, who before his capture was Europe’s most wanted man, had been on the run for four months after the November Paris attacks, which killed 130 people. He is believed to be the last survivor from the cell of 10 men who carried out the massacre. | The 26-year-old, who before his capture was Europe’s most wanted man, had been on the run for four months after the November Paris attacks, which killed 130 people. He is believed to be the last survivor from the cell of 10 men who carried out the massacre. |
| The ongoing investigation suggests Abdeslam and a wider circle of suspected logistics operatives in the Paris attacks could have had links to the suspects in the Brussels attacks. | The ongoing investigation suggests Abdeslam and a wider circle of suspected logistics operatives in the Paris attacks could have had links to the suspects in the Brussels attacks. |
| Abdeslam’s lawyer, Sven Mary, when asked if his client had prior knowledge about the Brussels suicide bombings, told journalists outside a Brussels court: “He didn’t know [about] it.” | Abdeslam’s lawyer, Sven Mary, when asked if his client had prior knowledge about the Brussels suicide bombings, told journalists outside a Brussels court: “He didn’t know [about] it.” |
| Just after his arrest, Abdeslam had made clear through his lawyer that he would oppose moves by France to obtain his extradition quickly. But that stance has changed, and now he apparently wants to transfer to France to “explain himself”. His lawyer said: “Salah Abdeslam told me that he wishes to leave for France as soon as possible. I will ask the investigating magistrate not to oppose his departure.” | Just after his arrest, Abdeslam had made clear through his lawyer that he would oppose moves by France to obtain his extradition quickly. But that stance has changed, and now he apparently wants to transfer to France to “explain himself”. His lawyer said: “Salah Abdeslam told me that he wishes to leave for France as soon as possible. I will ask the investigating magistrate not to oppose his departure.” |
| Asked why, he said: “The most important part of the file is in France. His explanations have to go there.” | Asked why, he said: “The most important part of the file is in France. His explanations have to go there.” |
| Mary had told Europe 1 radio on Wednesday night that Abdeslam had not agreed to speak to investigators who visited him on Tuesday after the Brussels attacks. Mary said this was perhaps because Abdeslam wanted to speak to his lawyer first. Mary said he did not want Abdeslam to close up or withdraw from speaking. | Mary had told Europe 1 radio on Wednesday night that Abdeslam had not agreed to speak to investigators who visited him on Tuesday after the Brussels attacks. Mary said this was perhaps because Abdeslam wanted to speak to his lawyer first. Mary said he did not want Abdeslam to close up or withdraw from speaking. |
| Abdeslam had been due in court in Brussels on 31 March to face a European arrest warrant issued by France. This warrant is a procedure reserved for EU member states that speeds up the traditional extradition process by preventing government authorities from blocking any transfer. The hearing has now been postponed until 7 April. | Abdeslam had been due in court in Brussels on 31 March to face a European arrest warrant issued by France. This warrant is a procedure reserved for EU member states that speeds up the traditional extradition process by preventing government authorities from blocking any transfer. The hearing has now been postponed until 7 April. |
| Asked whether Abdeslam, French-born though raised in Brussels, was still helping police investigators, Mary declined to comment, citing client confidentiality. | Asked whether Abdeslam, French-born though raised in Brussels, was still helping police investigators, Mary declined to comment, citing client confidentiality. |
| The lawyer had said on Monday, before the Brussels attacks, that Abdeslam was collaborating and communicating, and that he was “worth his weight in gold” for the investigation. | The lawyer had said on Monday, before the Brussels attacks, that Abdeslam was collaborating and communicating, and that he was “worth his weight in gold” for the investigation. |
| The Belgian daily Le Soir reported that Mary was assaulted in the street on Tuesday by someone who criticised him for defending a terrorist. | The Belgian daily Le Soir reported that Mary was assaulted in the street on Tuesday by someone who criticised him for defending a terrorist. |
| The lawyer told the paper he had shut his office to ensure the safety of his colleagues but he had not been personally placed under any police protection and did not want to be. | The lawyer told the paper he had shut his office to ensure the safety of his colleagues but he had not been personally placed under any police protection and did not want to be. |