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| Paris suspect Salah Abdeslam 'agrees to turn supergrass for French police' as Belgium approves extradition | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The Belgian prosecutor has approved a request to extradite the Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam to France, after he agreed to "cooperate" with the French authorities. | |
| In a statement, Brussels officials said the decision was expedited on the grounds Mr Abdeslam had "agreed to be transferred". | |
| Earlier, the suspect's Belgian lawyer suggested he had agreed to turn supergrass, in what is understood to be a bid to secure a plea bargain. | |
| Mr Abdeslam has denied direct involvement in the killing of 130 people in the French capital on 13 November last year, insisting he only drove others to the locations of the shootings and provided logistical support. | Mr Abdeslam has denied direct involvement in the killing of 130 people in the French capital on 13 November last year, insisting he only drove others to the locations of the shootings and provided logistical support. |
| He was arrested in a police raid on the Belgian suburb of Molenbeek last Friday after a four-month manhunt, shot in the leg as he tried to flee. | He was arrested in a police raid on the Belgian suburb of Molenbeek last Friday after a four-month manhunt, shot in the leg as he tried to flee. |
| Speaking to reporters on Thursday morning, Mr Abdeslam's lawyer Cedric Moisse said he was no longer resisting extradition to France following legal advice, and would rather it happen quickly. | Speaking to reporters on Thursday morning, Mr Abdeslam's lawyer Cedric Moisse said he was no longer resisting extradition to France following legal advice, and would rather it happen quickly. |
| "He wants to cooperate with the French authorities," Mr Moisse said. | "He wants to cooperate with the French authorities," Mr Moisse said. |
| Mr Abdeslam crossed back into Belgium the day after the Paris attacks, despite his car being checked by police, and was named Europe's most wanted fugitive. | Mr Abdeslam crossed back into Belgium the day after the Paris attacks, despite his car being checked by police, and was named Europe's most wanted fugitive. |
| Meanwhile, Brussels airport police have said they raised concerns about "overall security" at the hub long before the bomb blasts there on the 22 March, which came four days after Abdeslam's arrest. | Meanwhile, Brussels airport police have said they raised concerns about "overall security" at the hub long before the bomb blasts there on the 22 March, which came four days after Abdeslam's arrest. |
| In an open letter to their superiors, officers said they had complained about the issue "daily". | In an open letter to their superiors, officers said they had complained about the issue "daily". |
| They said there "had not been any security control of passengers or luggage from the airport complex right up to the centralised body searches" area. | They said there "had not been any security control of passengers or luggage from the airport complex right up to the centralised body searches" area. |
| The letter said the lack of security was such that police fear "scouts were sent out to assess the security lapses and plan terror". | The letter said the lack of security was such that police fear "scouts were sent out to assess the security lapses and plan terror". |
| The airport police also complained that too many airport employees have criminal backgrounds. | The airport police also complained that too many airport employees have criminal backgrounds. |