Paris attack suspect Salah Abdeslam could face trial in city where he planned to blow himself up

Terror suspect Salah Abdeslam could face trial in Paris - the very city where he planned to blow himself up - after reports that it looks "likely" he will be deported to France to face allegations of 'terrorist murder'.

Abdeslam is currently being interrogated by Belgian authorities and according to prosecutors has already admitted he wanted to commit a suicide bombing at Paris' main sporting stadium but backed out.

The most wanted fugitive from November's Paris attacks was detained following a raid in the Molenbeek neighbourhood of Brussels in what has been hailed by one counter-terror expert as a big 'intelligence coup'

Abdeslam was among five suspects detained as part of the operation.

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Paris suspect lawyer to sue French prosecutor

The lawyer defending Paris terror suspect Saleh Abdeslam says he will sue a French prosecutor for divulging his client's private admission that he planned to blow himself up with fellow Islamic State militants.

Sven Mary, lawyer to Paris attack suspect Saleh Abdeslam says he will sue French investigator. Credit: Reuters

Abdeslam was captured during a police raid in Brussels on Friday but his lawyer Sven Mary accuses a lead French investigator of violating judicial confidentiality by quoting his statement to a magistrate in Brussels at a news conference.

At the Paris news conference, Francois Molins read from 26-year-old Abdeslam's statement, saying: "He wanted to blow himself up at the Stade de France and, I quote, backed out."

The gun and bomb attacks on a sports stadium, bars and a concert hall killed 130 people and was the deadliest militant assault in Europe since 2004.

Abdeslam is due to appear before a judge in Brussels on Wednesday.

Paris suspect Abdeslam 'likely to be returned to France'

Paris terror suspect Salah Abdeslam is "likely to be returned to France" to face allegations of 'terrorist murder' after been formally charged by Belgian police today.

ITV News' Security Editor Rohit Kachroo says Abdeslam could face several more days of interrogation in Belgium before being returned to France where he is expected to be put on trial "in the very city where he's accused of playing a part in its worst ever terrorist atrocity".

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Abdeslam wanted to commit suicide bombing but 'backed out'

Terror suspect Salah Abdeslam

Terror suspect Salah Abdeslam wanted to commit suicide bombing at the Paris stadium but backed out, a prosecutor has said.

"Salah Abdesalam today during questioning by investigators affirmed that, and I quote, 'he wanted to blow himself up at the Stade de France and that he had backed down'," Francois Molins told reporters, adding that Abdeslam's initial statements should be treated with caution.

Salah Abdeslam charged with terrorist murder

Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam has been formally charged with terrorist murder, the Belgian prosecutor has said.

Another man, Monir Ahmed Alaaj, was charged alongside him with the same offence. A third man faces trial for being a member of a terrorist organisation and aiding and abetting criminals

A woman detainee named only as Djemila M,was charged with aiding and abetting but released, the prosecutors said in a statement. A second woman was released without charge.

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Interpol border warning after Abdeslam arrest

Interpol believe terrorist accomplices may try fleeing Europe Credit: Reuters

Interpol has advised its member states to be extra vigilant at border controls in the wake of the arrest of Paris terror suspect Salah Abdeslam.

The police organisation believes the arrest of Abdeslam could encourage accomplices to flee Europe.

Whilst it is too soon to speculate in which direction the investigation will proceed, anyone linked to Abdeslam will be concerned that their location could be revealed and attempt to run to try and avoid detection.

It is now vital that countries continue to cooperate and make thorough checks against the information available to them to avoid suspects slipping through the net.

– Jurgen Stock, Interpol Secretary General

Salah Abdeslam 'to refuse French extradition'

Abdeslam will refuse extradition to France Credit: Police handout

Paris terror suspect Salah Abdeslam is co-operating with Belgian police but will refuse extradition to France, his lawyer said.

Sven Mary told reporters in Brussels: "He is cooperating with Belgian justice.

"France is asking for his extradition. I can tell you that we will refuse the extradition to France."

Paris suspect Salah Abdeslam discharged from hospital

Paris terror suspect Salah Abdeslam has been discharged from hospital after being injured in a gunfight which ended with his arrest, Agence France-Press reports.

Abdeslam was taken to Saint Pierre hospital after being arrested Credit: Reuters

Citing the Mayor, AFP said Abdeslam had left Saint Pierre hospital in Brussels, Belgium, where he had been taken for treatment.

Abdeslam was the prime suspect in investigations into the string of co-ordinated attacks across Paris in November which killed 130 people.

He was injured and arrested during a raid on an apartment block in Molenbeek district.

French president François Hollande has said he will ask that Abdeslam is deported to France to face charges.

Paris suspect Abdeslam's arrest a big 'intelligence coup'

Belgium-born Salah Abdeslam was arrested on Friday Credit: Police handout

The arrest of Paris terror attack suspect Salah Abdeslam could be a major intelligence coup and its importance "cannot be overstated", according to a top US counter-terrorism expert.

Adam Schiff, the US' Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said in a statement that Abdeslam's arrest could help intelligence agencies to understand "how ISIS directs and coordinates its attacks on the West".

The importance of Abdeslam's capture cannot be overstated.

He may be the only remaining member of the team that directly participated in terrorising, and has been called the logistical chief for the group because he reportedly booked cars and hotel rooms, and ferried suicide bombers to their destinations.

His interrogation can also help us understand how ISIS directs and coordinates its attacks on the West.

– Adam Schiff

Abdeslam was arrested outside of Brussels on Friday after four months on the run and is the prime suspect behind a series of co-ordinated attacks in Paris last November which killed 130 people.

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