Salah Abdeslam, Paris Attacks Mastermind, Captured In Brussels Raid
Authorities have reported to the Associated Press that the mastermind behind the attacks in Paris has been captured and wounded in a raid.
Brussels over the past few days has been the scene of a series of raids in which authorities have been on the trail of those responsible for the Paris attacks last November. Now, two French police officials are are leaking information that the leader behind the vicious killing spree that left 130 innocent civilians dead has been captured. The operation is ongoing and taking place in the neighborhood of Molenbeek. At least one occupant of the building under siege has been killed.
The French officials reporting the breakthrough in the manhunt are speaking on conditions of anonymity. Due to their positions, they are not authorized to give information to the press. According to these sources, they were able to track Salah Abdeslam’s location based on fingerprints left at another scene that was raided earlier on Tuesday.
#BREAKINGNEWS Paris attack suspect Salah Abdeslam detained alive, wounded, police tell @ABC https://t.co/XvloyKOMCe pic.twitter.com/48N0Xd9LHA
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) March 18, 2016
Salah Abdeslam and his associates with ties to the Islamic State launched a series of attacks on cafes and a rock concert on November 13 and have been on the run for over three months.
CTV News reports that Salah Abdeslam, 26, is Brussels-born as well as many of the other attackers involved. There are two fugitives still unaccounted for by police. Terrorists from the area are thought to have returned to the Belgian capital after fleeing France.
BREAKING: Officials say Paris attacks fugitive Salah Abdeslam captured in Brussels in police operation after 4 months at large.
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 18, 2016
This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.
