News / EU

Paris suspect evades Belgian police, heading to Germany: Report

Monday, 23 November 2015 10:10 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 23 November 2015 10:10 AM ]

Belgian Federal prosecutor Eric Van der Syp at a press conference in Brussels, Monday, November 23,2015.

Salah Abdelslam, the only surviving suspect in the recent attacks in the French capital of Paris, is reportedly heading toward Germany after unsuccessful raids by police in Belgium, where he was thought to have gone into hiding.

Belgian federal prosecutors said a massive anti-terror operation by police and the army across the capital, Brussels, had failed to catch Abdelslam on Sunday evening. “Abdeslam Salah was not found during the raids,” said prosecutor Eric Van der Syp at a news conference early on Monday.

According to Belgian media reports, police spotted the suspect near the city of Liege, but he managed to escape toward Germany. He, later, evaded a police checkpoint set up to intercept him.

He is suspected of having rented a getaway car in the November 13 attacks in Paris, which claimed the lives of 130 people and injured more than 350 others

French police released this handout image on November 15, 2015, showing a picture and description of Abdeslam Salah. (Photo by AFP)

The day after the attacks, French police spotted Abdelslam near the Belgian border in a car with two other men, but allowed him to proceed. Police said, back then, it did not know of his involvement in the attacks. The man has been spotted by several witnesses at various locations in Brussels since then.

Belgian police arrested 16 people in late-night raids across Brussels on Sunday after Prime Minister Charles Michel warned of an “imminent and serious” threat of a terrorist attack.

According to Michel, authorities fear “an attack similar to the one in Paris, with several individuals who could possibly launch several attacks at the same time in multiple locations.”

The capital city remained in lockdown with tight security measures at the subway and the city center into Monday morning.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.ir