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Belgian authorities arrest third suspect in foiled terror attack plotted for France Belgian authorities arrest third suspect in foiled terror attack plotted for France
(about 1 hour later)
PARIS — Belgian federal prosecutors confirmed Saturday that a third suspect in Belgium has been charged in connection with plotting what officials are calling a major terrorist attack on France.PARIS — Belgian federal prosecutors confirmed Saturday that a third suspect in Belgium has been charged in connection with plotting what officials are calling a major terrorist attack on France.
The arrest comes as part of the same investigation that led to the arrest of Reda Kriket, 34, in the Paris suburb of Argenteuil last week, and another suspect in the Netherlands. The suspect, identified only as Y.A., was taken into custody on Friday. Prosecutors said that Y. A. is a Belgian citizen born May 4, 1982, making the suspect 33, but declined to provide further information “in the interest of the investigation.”
The third suspect in Belgium, identified only as Y.A., was taken into custody on Friday. Prosecutors said that Y. A. is a Belgian citizen born May 4, 1982, making the suspect 33, but declined to provide further information “in the interest of the investigation.” The arrest comes as part of the same investigation that led to the March 24 arrest of Reda Kriket, 34, in the Paris suburb of Argenteuil, and another suspect in the Netherlands a few days later.
After the March 22 attacks on the Brussels airport and the city's metro line, Belgium remains on the highest level of alert. On Saturday, however, officials announced that a limited number of passenger flights would resume from Brussels Airport on Sunday. Security at the airport, as it has elsewhere in Brussels, will be tighter. Two other suspects have been arrested in Belgium for colluding with Kriket: a man authorities have identified only as Rabah M., 34, and Abderahmane Ameroud, 38. Both were arrested in Brussels March 25, and both are Algerian citizens.
Since Kriket’s arrest in the Paris suburbs on March 24, two others have been arrested in Belgium for colluding with him: a man authorities have identified only as Rabah M., 34, and Abderahmane Ameroud, 38. Both were arrested in Brussels March 25, and both are Algerian citizens.
Additionally, Dutch authorities, at the insistence of their French counterparts, arrested a French citizen, Anis Bahri, 32, in Rotterdam on March 27. Authorities say Bahri was involved in plotting the France attack.
In the apartment Kriket occupied in Argenteuil, police discovered assault rifles, handguns, and explosives — including TATP, the type of explosive that has become a trademark of Islamic State jihadists. The substance was used in both the November attacks on Paris and in the Brussels attacks.In the apartment Kriket occupied in Argenteuil, police discovered assault rifles, handguns, and explosives — including TATP, the type of explosive that has become a trademark of Islamic State jihadists. The substance was used in both the November attacks on Paris and in the Brussels attacks.
At the time of Kriket’s arrest, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the apprehended suspect was in the “advanced stages” of planning an attack in conjunction with “a terrorist network.”At the time of Kriket’s arrest, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the apprehended suspect was in the “advanced stages” of planning an attack in conjunction with “a terrorist network.”
Although the extent of that network remains unclear, Kriket was sentenced in Belgium in absentia in July 2015 to 10 years in prison, for being part of a jihadist channel stemming from Syria. Also sentenced was Abaaoud Abdelhamid, a principal organizer behind the November attacks on Paris. Dutch authorities, at the insistence of their French counterparts, arrested a French citizen, Anis Bahri, 32, in Rotterdam on March 27. Authorities say Bahri was involved in plotting the France attack.
Although the extent of Kriket’s network remains unclear, he was sentenced in Belgium in absentia in July 2015 to 10 years in prison, for being part of a jihadist channel stemming from Syria. Also sentenced was Abaaoud Abdelhamid, a principal organizer behind the November attacks on Paris.
After the March 22 attacks on the Brussels airport and the city’s metro line, Belgium remains on the highest level of alert. The climate of palpable anxiety has resulted in increased security throughout the capital, where on Saturday police detained protesters for attempting to break an imposed ban on demonstrations.
According to Brussels media, two far-right protesters were arrested after “prohibited weapons” and Molotov cocktails were found in their vehicle. They were trying to take part in a planned anti-immigration rally in Molenbeek, a heavily Muslim neighborhood of Brussels, where Salah Abdeslam, a suspect in the Paris attacks of last November, was arrested on March 18, after four months in hiding.
Molenbeek’s mayor, François Schepmans, quickly banned Saturday’s protest because of the potential “public order disturbances” it posed.
Meanwhile, at least 10 counter-protestors were detained at a rally on the Place de la Bourse, where the city has largely come to grieve since the attacks. The event was organized by the Ligue des Droits de l’Homme (Human Rights League) to combat Islamophobia.
The city, meanwhile, continues to try to return to normal order. On Saturday officials announced that a limited number of passenger flights would resume from Brussels Airport on Sunday. Security at the airport will be tighter.