InternationalLink

Belgium asks France to transfer Paris attacks suspect for trial

Belgian prosecutors said Friday they have asked France to hand over Salah Abdeslam, a suspect in the November 2015 terrorist attacks in and around Paris, so that he can stand trial in Brussels in December over his alleged involvement in a March 2016 shooting attack on police in the Belgian capital. 

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

To support Mediapart subscribe

Belgium has asked France to temporarily transfer Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam to Belgium so that he can stand trial for a shootout with police in Brussels last year, reports Radio France Internationale.

Abdeslam, the only surviving suspect in the November 2015 Paris attacks, was arrested after a shootout with police in Brussels in March last year, four months after the Paris slaughter.

He and an alleged accomplice, Sofiane Ayari, are charged with "attempted murder of several police officers in a terrorist context”.

They are due to stand trial on December 18th.

Belgian prosecutors say that Abdeslam, who is currently in custody awaiting trial in France, wants to appear in person at his trial.

They are considering the transfer a loan and have guaranteed he will be returned to France.

Investigators suspect that Abdeslam’s arrest precipitated the Brussels attacks – four days after he was arrested, jihadists attacked the Brussels airport and metro system.

Read more of this report from RFI.