Paris Attacks Key Suspect Salah Abdeslam Released; Is Molenbeek A Haven For Jihadists?
Brussels-born Salah Abdeslam was pulled over and arrested near the French-Belgian border by police Saturday morning, but was later released, according to the Independent.
Since the incident, an international arrest warrant for Abdeslam has been issued. He is thought to be one of the gunmen who took part in the bloody attacks on Friday, in Paris. It also is believed, that the 26-year old is one of three brothers who took part in the attacks that led at least 126 people to their deaths.
Thirty one-year old Brahim Abdeslam is said to be one of the suicide bombers. He wounded one person by blowing himself up outside a bar near Bataclan, on the Boulevard Voltaire.
Mohammed, reportedly a third brother, was returning from Paris when he was arrested in Molenbeek, a Brussels neighborhood. He is currently in custody.
A total of seven arrests have been made, according to Belgian police.
Molenbeek, a poor and diverse part of Brussels, has a reputation as being a hideaway for jihadists.
"I have noticed there is almost always a link to Molenbeek, that there is a gigantic problem there," said Charles Michel, Belgium's Premier. Michel said the authorities would crack down on the neighborhood.
Salah Abdeslam's name was on rental documents found outside the Bataclan Concert Hall where 89 people had been killed, a senator revealed Sunday to NBC News on condition of anonymity.
The rental document was for a black, Belgian-registered Polo Volkswagen.
Abdeslam, now a key suspect, was in the vehicle with two other men when the car was stopped by police Saturday, reported BBC.
This information was not relayed on time to the guards on the France-Belgium border. Salah was let go after checks, and the alert being put out later, made authorities realize they missed Abdeslam.
Salah Abdeslam has been described as a "dangerous individual" and police warned the public not to approach him.
As part of an enormous manhunt in the wake of the Paris attacks, dozens of raids have been launched by police in France and Belgium.
