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Prime Suspect in Paris Attack Arrested in Brussels Raid

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The Algerian gunman newly linked to the November 13 attacks in Paris is set to appear in a Brussels courtroom Saturday to begin answering questions about his role in the attacks.

Salah Abdeslam was seized Friday in a Brussels neighborhood after being on the run for four months.

Abdeslam  is believed to be a direct participant in the Paris attacks. He is suspected of driving attackers to a rock concert, cafes and a stadium, which led to the death of 130 people.

Investigators say that Abdeslam is on the fast-track to be extradited to France, but his lawyer, Sven Mary says "we will refuse the extradition."

The lawyer spoke to journalists after he and Abdeslam met with a Belgian investigating magistrate who will decide whether to issue a formal arrest warrant against Abdeslam.

CBN News spoke with the director of CUFI's Watchman Program, Erick Stakelbeck, about the suburb where Abdeslam was arrested and the growing number of terrorists moving to Europe.  Click play for more. 

Meanwhile, Interpol is calling on countries to be vigilant at their borders, saying accomplices of Abdeslam may try to flee after his capture.

In a statement Saturday, the international police agency recommended closer checks at frontiers, especially for stolen passports. Many of the attackers and accomplices traveled on falsified or stolen documents.

"The fight against the terrorist threat continues," Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said after a meeting of top security advisers. He said "between 300 and 400 investigators" had been working to track down the fugitive in the months since he slipped out of the sight of authorities.
 
One of the Syrian passports used by a suicide bomber at the French national stadium had been listed by Interpol as among a batch of stolen blank passports.

Two other people believed linked to the attacks were still being sought, including fellow Molenbeek resident Mohamed Abrini and a man known under the alias of Soufiane Kayal.
 
Friday's capture of Abdeslam came after Belgian authorities said they found his fingerprints in an apartment raided earlier this week in another Brussels neighborhood.
 

 

 

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