Authorities have confirmed that at least one of the suicide bombers responsible for the horrific terror attacks in Paris, France, yesterday had been admitted the country as a Syrian refugee. The suicide bomber was carrying his Syrian passport when he blew himself up outside of the Stade de France stadium yesterday during the deadliest attack on France since World War II. Authorities say that the terrorist’s passport indicates that he had entered Europe in October of this year as a Syrian refugee.
The Daily Mail reports that a series of coordinated attacks on the city of Paris, France, left at least 127 people dead. Following the attack, French authorities say that passports were found on the bodies of some of the terrorists, which will help them learn more about how the terrorists made their way to Paris. One of the suicide bombers has been confirmed as a Syrian refugee .
A Syrian passport used by a refugee passing through Greece found near body of Paris suicide bomber. #ParisAttacks https://t.co/Aoqbqc3bma
— Hamish Macdonald (@hamishNews) November 14, 2015
Greek officials say that they have been asked by French authorities to check the records of 10 people that they believe were involved in the coordinated attack on Paris. The Greek officials say they are cooperating with the research and have determined that one of the bombers entered Greece on Syrian refugee status on October 3, 2015. The unidentified man was reported as 25-years-old and entered Greece through Leros. The Greek authorities say that the man’s identify was confirmed upon arrival as a Syrian refugee “according to EU rules.” However, they did not go into detail as to exactly how the process works when refugees enter the country. Though the details were not provided, Greek authorities say that they do not know if the passport was checked again when the attacker entered other countries as he traveled across Europe.
DEVELOPING: Syrian suicide bomber in #ParisAttacks passed through Greece as refugee. https://t.co/mMudswcaUD #ynet pic.twitter.com/14SgfRaiEG — Ynetnews (@ynetnews) November 14, 2015
As a result of the determination that at least one of the bombers was in Europe due to Syrian refugee status, Greek officials say they will do more to ensure insist on “complete identification” of individuals entering Europe on Syrian refugee status.
“We announce that the passport holder had passed from Leros on Oct. 3. where he was identified based on EU rules… We do not know if the passport was checked by other countries through which the holder likely passed. We will continue the painstaking and persistent effort to ensure the security of our country and Europe under difficult circumstances, insisting on complete identification of those arriving.”
The French publication Liberation reports that French authorities are requesting details on 10 other people that they believe were associated with the terrorist attacks in Paris. The are attempting to determine if these individuals also crossed into Europe through Greece as Syrian refugees.
In addition to the confirmed Syrian bomber, the police have also identified a second terrorist from the Paris attack. The second attacker was carrying an Egyptian passport when the body was discovered. Meanwhile, French authorities say that one of the three attackers at the music venue Bataclan was as young as 15-years-old. A fourth attacker was a Parisian who was already being watched by anti-terrorist authorities for possible involvement in terrorist activities.
Meanwhile, the Islamic State, ISIS, has taken responsibility for the heinous attack and the French President Francois Hollande says it was an “act of war” and that the country will be “merciless” in their response.
“We will work alongside our allies to fight this terrorist menace… France is strong and even if she is wounded she will get up always and nothing will hold her down, even if we are feeling the grief now… We will defend ourselves.”
[Photo by Jeff J. Mitchell/ Getty Images]