This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/27/belgium-extradites-paris-attacks-suspect-salah-abdeslam-to-france
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Belgium extradites Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam to France | Belgium extradites Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam to France |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Salah Abdeslam, a main suspect in the November terrorist attacks in Paris, will appear before a judge in Paris on Wednesday. | Salah Abdeslam, a main suspect in the November terrorist attacks in Paris, will appear before a judge in Paris on Wednesday. |
| Abdeslam, suspected of being the logistics mastermind behind the attacks, was transferred from Belgium, where he was arrested last month, to France early on Wednesday morning. | Abdeslam, suspected of being the logistics mastermind behind the attacks, was transferred from Belgium, where he was arrested last month, to France early on Wednesday morning. |
| He arrived in the French capital by helicopter accompanied by an elite squad of gendarmes at 9.05am and was questioned by anti-terrorist police before his court appearance at the Palais de Justice. | He arrived in the French capital by helicopter accompanied by an elite squad of gendarmes at 9.05am and was questioned by anti-terrorist police before his court appearance at the Palais de Justice. |
| Related: Paris and Brussels: the links between the attackers | Related: Paris and Brussels: the links between the attackers |
| The man believed to be the last living member of the Islamist terrorist cell that carried out the shootings and bombings in Paris and Brussels is expected to be mis en examen, the equivalent in the French system of being charged, on alleged “links to a terrorist organisation”. | The man believed to be the last living member of the Islamist terrorist cell that carried out the shootings and bombings in Paris and Brussels is expected to be mis en examen, the equivalent in the French system of being charged, on alleged “links to a terrorist organisation”. |
| He is alleged to have arranged the logistics for the November attacks and to have rented and paid for several flats used by the gunmen and suicide bombers. He left three suspects at the Stade de France, where they blew themselves up, but Abdeslam allegedly told Belgian investigators he had backed out of killing himself, dumping his explosive belt in a rubbish bin. | |
| After the Paris attacks, Abdeslam is said to have called two friends who drove from Brussels to Paris to pick him up and take him back to Belgium, where he went into hiding. | After the Paris attacks, Abdeslam is said to have called two friends who drove from Brussels to Paris to pick him up and take him back to Belgium, where he went into hiding. |
| The 26-year-old French national was shot in the leg during his arrest in the Molenbeek area of Brussels on 18 March after a four-month manhunt. | The 26-year-old French national was shot in the leg during his arrest in the Molenbeek area of Brussels on 18 March after a four-month manhunt. |
| A few days later, terrorists attacked Brussels airport and the city’s metro system. Investigators are looking into whether the bombings in the city were in revenge for Abdeslam’s arrest. | A few days later, terrorists attacked Brussels airport and the city’s metro system. Investigators are looking into whether the bombings in the city were in revenge for Abdeslam’s arrest. |
| Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the series of bombings and shootings in Paris, which killed 130 people and left 349 injured, and attacks in Brussels, where three suicide bombers killed 32 people and injured more than 300. | Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the series of bombings and shootings in Paris, which killed 130 people and left 349 injured, and attacks in Brussels, where three suicide bombers killed 32 people and injured more than 300. |
| Frank Berton, Abdeslam’s defence lawyer in France, said: “We’re a democracy. Everyone has the right to a defence and Salah Abdeslam must have one.” | Frank Berton, Abdeslam’s defence lawyer in France, said: “We’re a democracy. Everyone has the right to a defence and Salah Abdeslam must have one.” |
| Before his transfer to France, the lawyer told BFMTV that Abdeslam was “anxious to explain himself to a French judge as quickly as possible”. He added: “What is important is that he has a fair trial and is convicted for the things he has done and not those he has not. He will probably not express himself today. He will do so in the weeks to come.” | Before his transfer to France, the lawyer told BFMTV that Abdeslam was “anxious to explain himself to a French judge as quickly as possible”. He added: “What is important is that he has a fair trial and is convicted for the things he has done and not those he has not. He will probably not express himself today. He will do so in the weeks to come.” |
| Sven Mary, Abdeslam’s Belgian lawyer, described him as a “little jerk”, “vacuous” and “with the intelligence of an empty ashtray”. | Sven Mary, Abdeslam’s Belgian lawyer, described him as a “little jerk”, “vacuous” and “with the intelligence of an empty ashtray”. |
| “He’s more a follower than a leader … Salah Abdeslam is a perfect example of the GTA [Grand Theft Auto] generation who believe they’re living in a video game,” Mary added. | “He’s more a follower than a leader … Salah Abdeslam is a perfect example of the GTA [Grand Theft Auto] generation who believe they’re living in a video game,” Mary added. |
| “He and his mates have succeeded in making an entire religion despised. I asked him if he had read the Qur’an, which I have, and he told me he had read its interpretation on the internet. For simple souls, the net is perfect. It’s all they understand.” |