Paris Suspect Salah Abdeslam Charged With 'Terrorist Murder'

His lawyer says he plans to fight extradition to France
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Mar 19, 2016 11:25 AM CDT
Paris Suspect Salah Abdeslam Charged With 'Terrorist Murder'
Armed police officers escort Salah Abdeslam to a police vehicle during a raid in the Molenbeek neighborhood of Brussels on Friday.   (VTM via AP)

Belgian authorities have officially charged Paris suspect Salah Abdeslam and another man with "participation in terrorist murder" and in the activities of a terrorist organization, the AP reports. Three other suspects were also picked up during Friday's police raid in Brussels that finally nabbed Abdeslam after his four-month fugitive run following the Nov. 13 attacks that left 130 people dead in Paris. The prosecutor's office also charged one of them with "participation in the activities of a terrorist organization and the hiding of criminals." Two others who had been implicated in sheltering Abdeslam were released Saturday by police, even though one of them was charged with hiding criminals.

Abdeslam's lawyer says his client will fight efforts to extradite him to France. Belgian prosecutors said earlier they are confident the suspect will be extradited to France. 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. Belgian and French officials say they believe other accomplices could still be at large. (More Salah Abdeslam stories.)

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