Belgian Court Will Allow Extradition Of Paris Attacks Suspect To France
BRUSSELS (CBSNewYork) -- Belgian judicial authorities have approved in principle the extradition of Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam to France.
After two court sessions on Thursday, the federal prosecutor's office said "the transfer is allowed," and added that French and Belgian authorities will "jointly discuss and decide on the further steps of the transfer."
BRUSSELS ATTACKS: Photos | Videos | Coverage From CBS News
The statement said Abdeslam gave the "clear consent" for the transfer.
Abdeslam, the main fugitive from Islamic extremist attacks in Paris in November, was captured in Belgium's capital on March 18 after four months at large, officials said. Three other suspects were also picked up during the massive police raid.
On March 22, several days after Abdeslam's capture, bombs went off in Brussels Airport and at a surrounding metro station, killing 34 people and injuring 214 others. The Islamic State group, or ISIS, later claimed responsibility for the attacks.
The Islamic State group said its extremists opened fire in the airport and "several of them" detonated suicide belts in response to Belgium's support of the international coalition arrayed against it. The posting in the group's Amaq news agency said another suicide attacker detonated in the metro.
The Nov. 13, 2015 attacks in Paris left 130 people dead.
(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
