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Fingerprints of Paris fugitive found in Brussels

Darko Janjevic (AFP, Reuters, dpa)March 18, 2016

Police discovered fingerprints of a terror fugitive after raiding a Brussels apartment earlier this week, Belgian officials say. Salah Abdeslam, the prime suspect for the Paris attacks, reportedly escaped the raid.

https://p.dw.com/p/1IFqL
Salah Abdeslam Fahndungsfoto
Image: Police Federale Belgien

Belgian prosecutors announced on Friday that Abdeslam's fingerprints were found in an apartment in Brussels, just days after a large anti-terror operation.

"We can confirm that fingerprints of Salah Abdeslam were found in the apartment in (the Brussels district of) Forest," spokesman for federal prosecutors Eric Van Der Sypt told the AFP news agency, without providing details.

Belgian public broadcaster RTBF also reported that it was "more than likely" that Abdeslam escaped during the shootout.

Four police officers were wounded and one Islamist killed in the Tuesday skirmish, with two suspects fleeing the scene and avoiding capture. However, Van Der Sypt said it was not yet not known if Abdeslam was one of them.

Hunt for Paris suspects

Abdeslam is believed to have played a key logistical role in the Paris attacks, which claimed 130 lives in November. He is currently one of the most wanted men in Europe.

The 26-year-old's elder brother was among the suicide bombers who blew themselves up during the Paris attacks. According to the officials, Abdeslam drove the bombers to the site.

The French police also found an explosive belt, allegedly assigned to Abdeslam, in the Paris Montrouge quarter.