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| Brussels Jewish Museum attack: Jihadist 'claimed responsibility for shooting in video' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A 29-year-old French former jihadist volunteer in Syria has been arrested in Marseille on suspicion of killing four people in an attack on a Jewish museum in Brussels last weekend. | |
| The man, named as Mehdi Nemmouche from Roubaix in northern France, was arrested by customs officers at Marseille bus station on Friday when guns and ammunition were found in his luggage. | The man, named as Mehdi Nemmouche from Roubaix in northern France, was arrested by customs officers at Marseille bus station on Friday when guns and ammunition were found in his luggage. |
| Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Belgium's federal prosecutor said police had seized a video showing Mr Nemmouche claiming responsibility for the attack "on the Jews". | |
| He said "all European countries" were facing a terrorist threat from people returning from the war in Syria. | |
| A blue cap similar to that worn by the killer in CCTV footage and a miniature film camera were also found in Mr Nemmouche’s bags when he arrived on an overnight coach from Amsterdam via Brussels. | |
| The suspect, who was known to French security services as a jihadist volunteer in Syria until last year, is refusing to answer questions, police sources said. | The suspect, who was known to French security services as a jihadist volunteer in Syria until last year, is refusing to answer questions, police sources said. |
| The guns found in his possession included a Kalashnikov and a revolver – similar to the weapons used by the man who killed four people in the Jewish Museum in central Brussels last Saturday. | |
| If his involvement in the Brussels attack is proved, he will be the first ex-European volunteer with extreme Islamist groups in Syria to have committed an act of terrorism on his return to Europe. | If his involvement in the Brussels attack is proved, he will be the first ex-European volunteer with extreme Islamist groups in Syria to have committed an act of terrorism on his return to Europe. |
| The British and French governments have both expressed fears in recent weeks that European-born fighters in Syria could commit violent attacks when they return. | The British and French governments have both expressed fears in recent weeks that European-born fighters in Syria could commit violent attacks when they return. |
| French security sources described Mr Nemmouche’s behaviour as “amateurish” and not that of a jihadist trained by Al-Qaida or another radical anti-western or anti-jewish group. | French security sources described Mr Nemmouche’s behaviour as “amateurish” and not that of a jihadist trained by Al-Qaida or another radical anti-western or anti-jewish group. |
| To have carried guns in his luggage on a bus from Amsterdam to Marseilles – a route under high surveillance for possible drugs couriers - was not the action of a highly trained or well-organised individual, they said. | To have carried guns in his luggage on a bus from Amsterdam to Marseilles – a route under high surveillance for possible drugs couriers - was not the action of a highly trained or well-organised individual, they said. |
| Police are searching a home belonging to a man in Belgium where they believe Mr Nemmouche may have been staying. | |
| Roger Cukierman, president of the council of Jewish organisations in France, said that it would be a “huge relief” if the suspect did prove to be the Brussels killer. | Roger Cukierman, president of the council of Jewish organisations in France, said that it would be a “huge relief” if the suspect did prove to be the Brussels killer. |
| “While he was free, another attack was likely,” he said. “It it seems that the worst fears of western governments are being realised. The European jihadists in Syria are a time bomb waiting to go off.” | “While he was free, another attack was likely,” he said. “It it seems that the worst fears of western governments are being realised. The European jihadists in Syria are a time bomb waiting to go off.” |
| If the suspect’s involvement is proved, French security services may face criticism. Mr Nemmouche has been under surveillance since he returned France from Syria last year. | If the suspect’s involvement is proved, French security services may face criticism. Mr Nemmouche has been under surveillance since he returned France from Syria last year. |
| His alleged involvement will also provoke comparisons with the Toulouse scooter killer, Mohamed Merah, 23, who was also under surveillance when he killed seven people, including three Jewish children, in 2012. | His alleged involvement will also provoke comparisons with the Toulouse scooter killer, Mohamed Merah, 23, who was also under surveillance when he killed seven people, including three Jewish children, in 2012. |
| Like Merah, the Brussels killer is believed to have been carrying a Go Pro-type miniature film camera to record his attack. | Like Merah, the Brussels killer is believed to have been carrying a Go Pro-type miniature film camera to record his attack. |
| Merah’s sister, Saoud, also slipped the net of security surveillance in France last month and left the country. She is believed to have travelled to the Turkish-Syrian border with her husband and four children. | Merah’s sister, Saoud, also slipped the net of security surveillance in France last month and left the country. She is believed to have travelled to the Turkish-Syrian border with her husband and four children. |