Paris attack ringleaders were on Belgian list
November 26, 2015Four of the main suspects in the Islamic State (ISIS) Paris attacks were on a list of radicalized people compiled by Belgium’s intelligence services as early as June this year, officials said on Thursday.
The list of 85 individuals included alleged Paris ringleader Abdelhamid Abaaoud, brothers Brahim and Salah Abdeslam and newly named suspect Mohamed Abrini, they said.
The list was sent by the intelligence agencies to the local authorities in Molenbeek, a run-down Brussels district dubbed a haven for extremists, they said.
“I confirm that they featured on a list sent in June 2015 by the Threat Analysis Coordination Agency to the mayor of Molenbeek and the local police chief,” a local government source told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The list was first drafted after a raid on an Islamist hideout in the eastern town of Verviers in January in which two suspects were killed and a major terror plot involving Abaaoud was foiled.
Those raids followed the bloody attacks in Paris on the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine and a Jewish supermarket which left 17 people murdered.
The latest revelations will raise fresh concerns about Belgium’s handling of a growing Islamic extremist threat, with several major terror plots having roots in the country.
Abaaoud, a Belgian-Moroccan dual national who was killed in a French police raid days after the Paris attacks, is the presumed organizer of the atrocities.
Brahim Abdeslam, a French national living in Belgium, blew himself up outside a cafe in the attacks on November 13 while his brother Salah fled to Belgium shortly after the attacks, sparking a huge manhunt.
Belgian-Moroccan Abrini is the subject of an international European arrest warrant and was seen driving a car with Salah Abdeslam on the eve of the attacks.
AFP contributed to this report.
Similar posts
-
Dear World: I Don't Care
November 2, 2023By Avi Lewis I don’t care that you sympathize with Hamas I know you wouldn’t tolerate any of ...
-
Stand With Israel!
October 17, 2023Stand with Israel. Don't stand with the extreme terror organization Hamas. This is a war about huma...
-
Israel Thanks You For Your Support
October 13, 2023Israel extends its heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you, dear friends and supporters, f...
-
How Israel Benefits the United States
October 5, 2023The relationship between Israel and the United States has been a cornerstone of American foreign po...
-
How Israel Helps Its Arab Neighbors
September 27, 2023Introduction Israel, a country known for its rich history and complex geopolitical landscape, ha...
-
The Amazing Country of Israel
September 15, 2023Introduction Nestled in the heart of the Middle East, Israel is a nation with a remarkable histo...
-
Israel Safeguards The World From Terror Attacks
August 23, 2023Introduction In an era where terrorism poses a significant threat to global security, Israel sta...
-
Israel Helps The World With Water Recycling
August 10, 2023Introduction In a world grappling with the challenges of water scarcity and resource management,...
