Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Paris suspect Salah Abdeslam 'agrees to turn supergrass for French police' as Belgium approves extradition

Mr Abdeslam's lawyer said he was no longer resisting extradition to France, and would rather it happen quickly

Adam Withnall
Thursday 31 March 2016 04:52 EDT
Comments
Salah Abdeslam was arrested in Brussels
Salah Abdeslam was arrested in Brussels (PA)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The Belgian prosecutor has approved a request to extradite the Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam to France, after he agreed to "cooperate" with the French authorities.

In a statement, Brussels officials said the decision was expedited on the grounds Mr Abdeslam had "agreed to be transferred".

Earlier, the suspect's Belgian lawyer suggested he had agreed to turn supergrass, in what is understood to be a bid to secure a plea bargain.

Mr Abdeslam has denied direct involvement in the killing of 130 people in the French capital on 13 November last year, insisting he only drove others to the locations of the shootings and provided logistical support.

He was arrested in a police raid on the Belgian suburb of Molenbeek last Friday after a four-month manhunt, shot in the leg as he tried to flee.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday morning, Mr Abdeslam's lawyer Cedric Moisse said he was no longer resisting extradition to France following legal advice, and would rather it happen quickly.

"He wants to cooperate with the French authorities," Mr Moisse said.

Mr Abdeslam crossed back into Belgium the day after the Paris attacks, despite his car being checked by police, and was named Europe's most wanted fugitive.

Paris attacks suspect caught

Meanwhile, Brussels airport police have said they raised concerns about "overall security" at the hub long before the bomb blasts there on the 22 March, which came four days after Abdeslam's arrest.

In an open letter to their superiors, officers said they had complained about the issue "daily".

They said there "had not been any security control of passengers or luggage from the airport complex right up to the centralised body searches" area.

The letter said the lack of security was such that police fear "scouts were sent out to assess the security lapses and plan terror".

The airport police also complained that too many airport employees have criminal backgrounds.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in