First Paris gunman identified, car used in attacks found

The attacker, named as 29-year-old Ismael M., had "never been implicated in a terrorist network or plot" before, Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said.

Prosecutors claim M. was among the attackers who killed at least 89 people during the Eagles of Death Metal concert in Bataclan, the bloodiest of the coordinated terror strikes on Paris late Friday.

He was also one of the two gunmen who blew themselves up while police stormed the venue, according to French officials.

The investigators reportedly identified Ismael by his severed finger they discovered at the scene.

The 29-year-old had eight convictions for petty crime, but was never imprisoned, according to the police files.

'Madness'

Authorities searched Ismael's home, as well as the homes of his father and brother, after establishing the alleged gunman's identity.

"It's a crazy thing, it's madness," his brother told the AFP news agency before being interrogated by police.

"Yesterday I was in Paris and I saw what a mess it was," he added.

Ismael's brother claims he cut ties with the alleged attacker several years ago, but never imagined he could become radicalized.

Investigators are now probing whether the shooter took a trip to Syria last year, according to police sources.

Manhunt in Belgium

Previously, police announced they had found a Syrian passport near the body of one of the attackers, but did not exclude the possibility of the document switching hands before the shooting.

"We confirm that the [Syrian] passport holder came through the Greek island of Leros on October 3, where he [the passport holder] was registered under EU rules," the Greek minister for citizen protection, Nikos Toskas said.

The same person entered Serbia four days later and requested asylum in the country, according to Serbian media reports citing police sources.

Car found

On Sunday, Paris police announced they found a black Seat car from which gunmen allegedly fired at people in restaurants during the attacks in the eastern suburb of Montreuil. The authorities found several AK47 rifles in the vehicle.

Previously, Belgian police arrested several people in connection with the attacks, including one person who was in Paris during the attacks.

dj/jlw (AFP, AP, dpa)