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Police Raids in France and Belgium Seek Paris Attack Suspects Police Raids in France and Belgium Seek Paris Attack Suspects
(35 minutes later)
BRUSSELS — Heavily armed police officers wearing balaclavas descended on a Brussels neighborhood on Monday as the authorities intensified their manhunt for Salah Abdeslam, who is believed to have helped carry out the Paris terrorist attacks on Friday. Meanwhile, the authorities in France announced that they had conducted sweeping police raids around the country overnight, detaining 23 people. BRUSSELS — Heavily armed police officers wearing balaclavas descended on a Brussels neighborhood on Monday in an unsuccessful search for Salah Abdeslam, who is believed to have helped carry out the Paris terrorist attacks on Friday. Meanwhile, the authorities in France announced that they had conducted sweeping police raids around the country overnight, detaining 23 people.
The authorities said they were looking seriously at the possibility that Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a 27-year-old Belgian man now fighting with the Islamic State in Syria, might have helped plan the attacks, according to a European official close to the investigation who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the inquiry was continuing. The raid in the Molenbeek neighborhood if Brussels ended after more than three hours. Mr. Abdeslam, 26, remains at large. His brother Ibrahim was one of the attackers who died in Paris. A third brother, Mohamed, and four other men who had been detained were released on Monday.
Belgian authorities had already been looking for Mr. Abaaoud as he is the “presumed mastermind” of a terrorist plot that was foiled in January; Mr. Abbaoud has been prominently featured in Islamic State propaganda. The authorities are looking seriously at the possibility that Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a 27-year-old Belgian man now fighting with the Islamic State in Syria, might have helped plan the attacks, according to a European official close to the investigation who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the inquiry was continuing.
The raid in the Molenbeek neighborhood of Brussels ended on Monday afternoon after more than three hours, and there was no immediate indication that the authorities had found Mr. Abdeslam, whose brother Ibrahim was one of the attackers who died in Paris. A third brother, Mohamed, and four other men who had been detained after the attacks have been released, the authorities said. Mr. Abaaoud, who has been prominently featured in Islamic State propaganda, is thought to have been the planner behind a terrorist plot that was foiled in January.
At noon, France observed a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the attack, which killed 129 people and injured about 350 others. The Metro and cars stopped and crowds gathered at a makeshift memorial at the Place de la République and at the Eiffel Tower. President François Hollande stood with students at the Sorbonne. Many recited the national anthem, the “Marseillaise,” after the moment passed. In other cities — Delhi, Doha and Dublin — crowds gathered at French embassies to pay their respect.At noon, France observed a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the attack, which killed 129 people and injured about 350 others. The Metro and cars stopped and crowds gathered at a makeshift memorial at the Place de la République and at the Eiffel Tower. President François Hollande stood with students at the Sorbonne. Many recited the national anthem, the “Marseillaise,” after the moment passed. In other cities — Delhi, Doha and Dublin — crowds gathered at French embassies to pay their respect.
As the country observed its second of three days of national mourning, law-enforcement operations continued.As the country observed its second of three days of national mourning, law-enforcement operations continued.
Under a state of emergency that Mr. Hollande had declared on Friday, the police are empowered to conduct raids without a search warrant, and Bernard Cazeneuve, the interior minister, said 168 such raids had taken place in 19 French departments, including the Paris region and in Lille, Lyon, Marseille and Toulouse. The police arrested 23 people and confiscated 19 weapons, including 19 handguns, eight long guns and four heavy weapons, as well as computer hardware, mobile phones and narcotics. Another 104 people were put under house arrest. Under a state of emergency that Mr. Hollande had declared on Friday, the police are empowered to conduct raids without a search warrant, and Bernard Cazeneuve, the interior minister, said 168 such raids had taken place in 19 French departments, including the Paris region and in Lille, Lyon, Marseille and Toulouse. The police arrested 23 people and confiscated 19 weapons, including 19 handguns, eight long guns and four heavy weapons, as well as computer hardware, mobile phones and narcotics. Another 104 people were placed under house arrest.
In one home in the Rhône department, Mr. Cazeneuve said, the police found a Kalashnikov assault rifle, three automatic pistols, ammunition and bulletproof vests. Officers obtained a warrant to search the home of the parents of one suspect, where they found several automatic pistols, ammunition, police armbands, military clothing and a rocket-launcher.In one home in the Rhône department, Mr. Cazeneuve said, the police found a Kalashnikov assault rifle, three automatic pistols, ammunition and bulletproof vests. Officers obtained a warrant to search the home of the parents of one suspect, where they found several automatic pistols, ammunition, police armbands, military clothing and a rocket-launcher.
Mr. Cazeneuve said that the investigation on the attacks in Paris was “making quick progress” but that the threat of terrorist attacks “remains high.” Six attacks on French territory have been foiled or avoided since the spring, Mr. Cazeneuve said.Mr. Cazeneuve said that the investigation on the attacks in Paris was “making quick progress” but that the threat of terrorist attacks “remains high.” Six attacks on French territory have been foiled or avoided since the spring, Mr. Cazeneuve said.
The raids in both countries were carried out as the authorities continued a manhunt for Salah Abdeslam, 26, who is believed to have been a central figure in the attacks, along with the two brothers. Salah Abdeslam was stopped by the French police early Saturday as he drove into Belgium, but he was let go when his papers appeared to be in order.
“We are using all the possibilities given to us by the state of emergency, that is to say administrative raids, 24 hours a day,” Prime Minister Manuel Valls of France said in an interview on RTL radio on Monday. He vowed to keep intense pressure on “radical Islamism, Salafist groups, all those who preach hatred of the Republic.”“We are using all the possibilities given to us by the state of emergency, that is to say administrative raids, 24 hours a day,” Prime Minister Manuel Valls of France said in an interview on RTL radio on Monday. He vowed to keep intense pressure on “radical Islamism, Salafist groups, all those who preach hatred of the Republic.”
The authorities also confirmed on Monday that one of the terrorists who struck Paris on Friday evening had entered Europe through Greece on a Syrian passport last month, providing new evidence that the attackers used the flow of hundreds of thousands of migrants to further their plot.The authorities also confirmed on Monday that one of the terrorists who struck Paris on Friday evening had entered Europe through Greece on a Syrian passport last month, providing new evidence that the attackers used the flow of hundreds of thousands of migrants to further their plot.
The Paris prosecutor, François Molins, said in a statement that the man — identified on his passport as Ahmad al-Mohammad, 25, a native of Idlib, Syria — was one of the men who blew himself up outside the Stade de France on Friday night, where the French and German national soccer teams were playing, with Mr. Hollande in attendance. The passport was found at the scene.The Paris prosecutor, François Molins, said in a statement that the man — identified on his passport as Ahmad al-Mohammad, 25, a native of Idlib, Syria — was one of the men who blew himself up outside the Stade de France on Friday night, where the French and German national soccer teams were playing, with Mr. Hollande in attendance. The passport was found at the scene.
Mr. Molins said the suicide bomber’s fingerprints were consistent with those recorded at a border check in Greece last month — but that additional verification was needed. The Greek authorities said that the holder of the passport passed through the island of Leros on Oct. 3, and the Serbian authorities said he passed through the border town of Presovo on Oct. 7, after entering from Macedonia. It remains unclear if the passport was authentic.Mr. Molins said the suicide bomber’s fingerprints were consistent with those recorded at a border check in Greece last month — but that additional verification was needed. The Greek authorities said that the holder of the passport passed through the island of Leros on Oct. 3, and the Serbian authorities said he passed through the border town of Presovo on Oct. 7, after entering from Macedonia. It remains unclear if the passport was authentic.
The nearly unchecked flow of migrants into Europe from Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and other countries had already provoked a political backlash before the Paris attacks, and word that one of the bombers had embedded himself in the flow of people crossing the Continent with minimal security checks could create further pressure to close borders and be less welcoming to migrants.The nearly unchecked flow of migrants into Europe from Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and other countries had already provoked a political backlash before the Paris attacks, and word that one of the bombers had embedded himself in the flow of people crossing the Continent with minimal security checks could create further pressure to close borders and be less welcoming to migrants.
Mr. Molins also identified another assailant, Samy Amimour, who blew himself up at the Bataclan concert hall, where 89 people were killed on Friday. Mr. Amimour, 28, was born in Paris and lived in Drancy, a suburb of the city, the statement said.Mr. Molins also identified another assailant, Samy Amimour, who blew himself up at the Bataclan concert hall, where 89 people were killed on Friday. Mr. Amimour, 28, was born in Paris and lived in Drancy, a suburb of the city, the statement said.
Mr. Molins said that Mr. Amimour was known to the French authorities, having been charged in October 2012 with criminal terrorist conspiracy, after a plan to leave for Yemen that was not carried out, the statement said. Mr. Amimour was placed under judicial supervision but violated the terms of that supervision in the fall of 2013, prompting the authorities to put out an international arrest warrant.Mr. Molins said that Mr. Amimour was known to the French authorities, having been charged in October 2012 with criminal terrorist conspiracy, after a plan to leave for Yemen that was not carried out, the statement said. Mr. Amimour was placed under judicial supervision but violated the terms of that supervision in the fall of 2013, prompting the authorities to put out an international arrest warrant.
Last December, Le Monde had interviewed Mr. Amimour’s father — it did not publish his family’s name at the time — who went to Syria to try to bring back his son.Last December, Le Monde had interviewed Mr. Amimour’s father — it did not publish his family’s name at the time — who went to Syria to try to bring back his son.
Three members of Mr. Amimour’s family were arrested on Monday morning and are currently in police custody, the statement said.Three members of Mr. Amimour’s family were arrested on Monday morning and are currently in police custody, the statement said.
“We are at war against terrorism,” Mr. Valls said, warning that new attacks were possible in the coming weeks or days.“We are at war against terrorism,” Mr. Valls said, warning that new attacks were possible in the coming weeks or days.
Mr. Valls did not describe the raids or mention any arrests, but Mr. Cazeneuve was scheduled to give a statement later on Monday morning.Mr. Valls did not describe the raids or mention any arrests, but Mr. Cazeneuve was scheduled to give a statement later on Monday morning.
Mr. Hollande has blamed the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, for the attacks. On Sunday night and Monday morning, France unleashed a potent retaliatory strike against the group’s headquarters in Raqqa, Syria. The French Defense Ministry said its warplanes had dropped at least 20 bombs on a series of Islamic State targets, including an ammunitions depot and a training camp.Mr. Hollande has blamed the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, for the attacks. On Sunday night and Monday morning, France unleashed a potent retaliatory strike against the group’s headquarters in Raqqa, Syria. The French Defense Ministry said its warplanes had dropped at least 20 bombs on a series of Islamic State targets, including an ammunitions depot and a training camp.
“This attack was organized, planned and conceived from Syria,” Mr. Valls told RTL radio, referring to the Paris attacks.“This attack was organized, planned and conceived from Syria,” Mr. Valls told RTL radio, referring to the Paris attacks.
Mr. Valls also announced that the international climate conference in Paris, set to begin on Nov. 30, would go ahead as scheduled, but that many side events might be canceled. The Turkish government confirmed on Monday that one of the attackers in Paris — Ismaël Omar Mostefaï, 29, a French citizen who died in the Paris attacks — entered Turkey in 2013 but that “there is no record of him leaving the country.”
“We are currently looking into it, but anything that was exterior to the COP, a whole range of concerts and of rather festive events will no doubt be canceled,” Mr. Valls said, referring to the Conference of Parties, the body of countries overseeing the climate negotiations. A senior Turkish official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the government flagged Mr. Mostefaï twice — in December 2014 and again in June of this year — but that “we have, however, not heard back from France on the matter.” He added: “It was only after the Paris attacks that the Turkish authorities received an information request about Ismaël Omar Mostefaï from France.”
The official added that “this is not a time to play the blame game” but added that governments need to do better at sharing intelligence to prevent terrorism.
Elsewhere in Europe, the authorities tightened security.Elsewhere in Europe, the authorities tightened security.
Britain on Monday announced that it would pay for an additional 1,900 intelligence officers, and would review aviation security, as part of its response to the attacks.Britain on Monday announced that it would pay for an additional 1,900 intelligence officers, and would review aviation security, as part of its response to the attacks.
Extra resources will be found to finance more staff at MI5, which deals with internal security; at MI6, its foreign intelligence agency; and at Government Communications Headquarters, which conducts electronic surveillance, the office of Prime Minister David Cameron said.Extra resources will be found to finance more staff at MI5, which deals with internal security; at MI6, its foreign intelligence agency; and at Government Communications Headquarters, which conducts electronic surveillance, the office of Prime Minister David Cameron said.
Speaking from Turkey, where he was attending a meeting of leaders of the Group of 20 industrial and emerging-market economies, Mr. Cameron also said he would consider speeding the legislative timetable for a proposed law to govern electronic snooping by the intelligence agencies, though he added that it was important to bring Parliament and public support with him.Speaking from Turkey, where he was attending a meeting of leaders of the Group of 20 industrial and emerging-market economies, Mr. Cameron also said he would consider speeding the legislative timetable for a proposed law to govern electronic snooping by the intelligence agencies, though he added that it was important to bring Parliament and public support with him.
John O. Brennan, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, said on Monday that both the Paris attacks and the downing of a Russian jet over the Sinai Peninsula bear the “hallmarks” of the Islamic State.
Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, Mr. Brennan called the group an “association of murderous sociopaths,” that is “not going to content itself with violence inside the Syrian and Iraqi borders.”
Wading into the debate over surveillance, privacy and encryption, Mr. Brennan said he hoped the Paris attacks would be a “wake-up call,” adding “hand-wringing” had weakened the ability of Western intelligence services to prevent attacks.