An Algerian jihadist sympathiser arrested in connection with a thwarted attack on a church in France was charged (1) with terror-related murder Friday after five days of police questioning, reports Yahoo! News.
Sid Ahmed Ghlam, 24, was taken into custody Sunday after he accidentally shot himself in the leg, a fluke occurrence that led to police uncovering an alleged plot to attack at least one church in the town of Villejuif, just south of Paris.
Ghlam, who remains in a Paris hospital recovering from the gunshot wound, was charged with "murder and attempted murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise" and criminal conspiracy, a source close to the case told AFP, adding that he was due to go before a judge on a prosecution request he be remanded into custody.
Police say they found an arsenal of weapons, tactical gear and cellphones in Ghlam's car and student flat, but one of the suspect's lawyers said Friday he denies "vigorously all the accusations against him."
Investigator say they uncovered detailed plans to attack churches and linked Ghlam's DNA to the murder of a young mother in Villejuif who was found shot dead in the passenger seat of her car on Sunday.
Security sources said the killing may have resulted from an attempt to steal the vehicle of the victim, 32-year-old Aurélie Châtelain.
Read more of this AFP report published by Yahoo! News.
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1. Under a change to the French legal system introduced in 1993, a magistrate can decide a suspect should be 'placed under investigation' (mise en examen), which is a status one step short of being charged (inculpé), if there is 'serious or concordant' evidence that they committed a crime. Some English-language media describe this status, peculiar to French criminal law, as that of being charged. In fact, it is only at the end of an investigation that a decision can be made to bring charges, in which case the accused is automatically sent for trial.