France: Arrest of Paris attack mastermind ‘important blow’ to Daesh in Europe

France's Interior Minister Cazeneuve (AFP Photo)

Paris (IINA) – French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve described the arrest of Salah Abdeslam, the key suspect in last year’s Paris terror attacks, in Belgium on Friday as “an important blow to the terrorist organization Daesh in Europe”, news agencies reported.
“This is not the end of the fight that we are leading relentlessly against terrorism,” Cazeneuve said. “We need to maintain our vigilance to be ahead of the threat.”
Three relatives who helped hide Abdeslam were detained as well, according to Van der Sypt from the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office.
French President Francois Hollande said Paris prosecutors will seek the extradition of Abdeslam - a Belgian-born French citizen - to France for trial.
“I know the Belgian authorities will respond quickly and favorably to our request for extradition,” Hollande said.
Salah Abdeslam, the top suspect in Paris attacks on November 13 last year, was charged with terrorist murder on Saturday by Belgian authorities and his lawyer vowed to fight any attempt to extradite him to France to stand trial for the killing of 130 people.
AB/IINA

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