Monday, November 23, 2015

Europe's most wanted man Salah Abdeslam slips the net as Belgian police arrest 16 in terror raids

Abdeslan Salah
Europe's most wanted man has evaded capture once again after heavily-armed police officers launched raids across Brussels and arresting 16 people.
Salah Abdeslam was not arrested by police in Belgium during 19 raids linked to an "imminent" threat to the European nation from suspected Islamist fanatics.
At a press conference this at around 11.30pm UK time on Sunday, Belgian prosecutors revealed one suspect drove towards police after being spotted.
Officers dodged the car but were forced to fire shots at it and then arrested the person inside.

No weapons or explosives were recovered by police in any of the raids."There were also three house searches carried out in Charleroi. "In total 16 people were arrested.
"The investigating judge will decide tomorrow about their further possible detention.
"During a search in a snack bar in the Molenbeek, a vehicle ran into the police after which the police officers fired two shots.
"The vehicle rushed off but was intercepted later in Brussels."The driver, a man who was hurt, was arrested.
"For the time being we cannot confirm if there is a relation between the ongoing investigation and this arrest.
REUTERS/Youssef BoudlalBrussels in lockdown
Operation: The huge police operation locked down most of the capital city
"No further specific incidents occurred during the searches.
"No further information can be given about objects found or about the identity of the person arrested.
"Until now, no firearms or explosives were found.
"Salah Abdeslam is not among the persons arrested during the searches.
"The investigation continues."
Abdeslam was said by Le Soir newspaper to have been identified fleeing in the direction of Germany in a BMW.
LAURIE DIEFFEMBACQ/AFP/Getty ImagesBrussels in lockdown
Warning: Police stood guard on a security perimeter
The authorities urged a social media blackout of operations as the desperate manhunt continued for surviving members of the group behind the gun and bomb murders of 130 people in the French capital.
Brussels remained on high alert over fears of a Paris-style Islamic State (IS) terror attack as David Cameron prepared to meet Francois Hollande to discuss action to crush the extremist threat.
Schools, universities and the underground system will remain closed today and some workers have been advised to stay at home while key suspects remain at large.
The news was revealed in the late night press conference little over an hour after the police operation was declared over.
REUTERS/Youssef BoudlalBrussels in lockdown
Threat: The Belgian capital was on lockdown for several hours
The city had been on lockdown for much of the day following intelligence reports that a terrorist atrocity similar to the bomb and gun attack in Paris was feared to be "imminent".
Residents in properties close to where police swooped were told to stay indoors and away from the windows.
Shots were fired in a night of high tension that was finally brought to an end at around 11pm UK time.
One of those detained on Rue du Midi, close to the Grand Place, was injured.
Brussels synagogues had been closed for the first time since the Second World War.
GettyA Belgian policeman secures an area during a press conference
A Belgian policeman and servicemen secure an area during a press conference by the Belgian prime minister concerning the country's security alert level in Brussels on November 22, 2015
Soldiers and armed response police units flooded cordoned-off streets of the Belgian capital as security chiefs warned two IS terrorists were poised to launch a gun and bomb massacre.
Metro stations were closed down, shops shut and residents ordered to stay inside while a manhunt for the thugs went on.
Troops were deployed to guard the Radisson hotel and a police station near the city’s Grande Place.
Photos were also been posted on Twitter of soldiers closing off a hotel and telling guests not to go outside.
Residents were told not to leave their homes or businesses and to keep away from all windows.
Minister of Defence Steven Vandeput told people not to report their locations on social networks as tensions grow.
Belgian police also asked people not to report any police operations.
In a tweet, the force said: "For safety, please observe radio silence on social media about police operations. Thank you."
REUTERS/Yves HermanBrussels in lockdown
Shock: Belgian special police forces take part in an operation in the neighborhood of Molenbeek
Guests staying at a Raddison hotel in the Belgian city told how they were warned by soldiers stationed both in and outside the hotel that they should not consider leaving.
The Grand Palace is close to where a large police and army presence was situated, amid reports of the police raid.
Although the raids finished, Brussels remains in lockdown as soldiers and police patrol the streets following intelligence of a 'serious' threat of an attack.
The city's metro service and schools will remain closed on Monday.
Getty
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said the police and army presence would be strengthened, ITV reports.
Belgian special forces arrested four people on Saturday as the country remained on the highest terrorism alert possible, Level 4.
The arrests were made at around 3pm in the Place du Grand Sablon, according to local media.
The Belgian army were drafted on to the streets of Brussels and the city's metro shut down as security chiefs announced there was a "serious and imminent" threat.
REUTERSBelgian soldiers and police patrol in central Brussels
Army: Soldiers could be seen patrolling the streets
The capital had been put into lockdown after reports emerged that the city was facing the threat of a bomb and gun attack similar to that seen on the streets of Paris a week ago.
Prime Minster Michel said the decision to raise the alert was "based on quite precise information about the risk of an attack like the one that happened in Paris".
Speaking at a news conference, he said the fear was that "several individuals with arms and explosives could launch an attack ... perhaps even in several places".
Mr Michel added: "We urge the public not to give in to panic, to stay calm. We have taken the measures that are necessary."Heavily-armed soldiers are patrolling the streets, trucks drive down the roads and members of the public have been told to avoid public gatherings - such as concerts - while the threat is examined.
Belgium's national Crisis Centre raised its terrorism alert for the Brussels region to Level 4, which indicates a "serious and immediate threat"
As the search for the jihadists went on, world leaders were contemplating how to respond to a string of outrages - also including the downing of a Russian airline over Egypt - with the UK moving nearer to joining allied air strikes in Syria.
Prime Minister Mr Cameron will present the case for escalating British military involvement to Parliament later this week - with the Paris attacks and an unanimous United Nations Security Council resolution apparently galvanising support among MPs.
He is meeting Mr Hollande in Paris as the French president starts an intensive push to create a "grand coalition" to destroy IS - also known as Isil, Isis and Daesh - which will take him to Washington and Moscow in the coming days.
A Commons vote on air strikes could be held as early as next week and Chancellor George Osborne said the deaths of 130 on the streets of Paris and the UN resolution backing "all necessary measures" were swaying the argument.
"We'll make the case as a government, we will allow MPs to digest that response and then we will see where we stand.
"Frankly, Britain has never been a country that stands on the sidelines and relies on others to defend us," he said.
In Paris, French police issued a photo of the as-yet-unidentified third attacker who died outside the Stade de France stadium.
The BBC said the picture issued by French police matched that on paperwork relating to a man who entered Greece posing as a Syrian refugee along with another of the terrorists.
He was travelling on a passport in the name of "M al-Mahmod" although his actual identity remains unclear.
A Syrian passport in the name Ahmad al-Mohammad was found with the remains of another of the group - who is recorded as arriving on the Greek island of Leros from Turkey on a boat with nearly 200 refugees.
The pair appear to have made the journey to Paris together.

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