Paris Terror Attack Suspect Is Shot and Captured in Belgium
Salah Abdeslam, one of the most wanted men in the world, had evaded capture for four months as he slipped through the fingers of authorities on several occasions. Now the alleged mastermind of the November massacre of 130 faces extradition to France.
Salah Abdeslam, in white hooded sweatshirt, was on the run for 126 days before being caught by commandos. (VTM via AP)
One of the most wanted men in the world is in custody. Belgian police commandos on Friday apprehended Salah Abdeslam, the last suspect sought in November’s terror attacks in Paris, after raiding his hideout in Brussels.
According to reports, Abdeslam, 26, was shot in the leg as he attempted to flee and was arrested with four others.
The capture ended a four-month manhunt by French and Belgian authorities. Police stopped Abdeslam on the night of the Paris attacks that killed 130 people, but he was released because he had not yet been identified as a suspect. The killings took place at a rock concert, a soccer stadium and several cafes.
Two days later, Abdeslam, a Belgian-born French citizen, eluded capture again when Belgian authorities, because of a law prohibiting nighttime raids, were unable to enter a house where he was thought to be hiding. Earlier this week, he escaped a police raid at a different location in Brussels. His fingerprints were found at the scene, a development that helped authorities plan Friday’s successful operation.
“This is an important result in the battle for democracy,” Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel declared at a news conference alongside French President Francois Hollande, who was in Brussels for a European summit.
Investigators say Abdeslam might have driven a car that dropped off three suicide bombers near the Stade de France, one of the attack sites. He is expected to be sent to France for trial.
–Posted by Eric Ortiz
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