International
Paris terror suspect, 4 others arrested in Belgium
Salah Abdeslam the mastermind behind the Paris attacks and Europe’s most wanted fugitive has been captured by Belgian authorities after a raid on Friday.
After four month of search, Salah was wounded and captured in a gun battle with authorities in an anti-terror raid in the Brussels’ suburb of Molenbeek. He was captured alongside four other suspects.
According to prosecutors, a man named Monir Ahmed Alaaj — known as Amine Choukri — was also wounded and hospitalized.
Read also: ISIL releases new video of 9 Paris attackers
The others detained included three members of a family who helped hide Abdeslam, Belgian federal prosecutor’s office spokesman Eric Van der Sypt said.
Continuing, Van der Sypt said a Belgian-born French citizen, and another person were wounded in the raid while Abdeslam had a minor leg wound in the ensuing gun battle.
French President Francois Hollande said Paris prosecutors will urgently request the extradition of Abdeslam. Hollande told reporters he is confident Abdeslam will be sent to France for trial.
“I know the Belgian authorities will respond quickly and favorably to our request for extradition,” Hollande said.
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