Paris terror suspect on-the-loose ‘slipped’ through hands of authorities

JPOST.COM STAFF, REUTERS

Suspect questioned by authorities on French-Belgian border, yet freed shortly after – making the getaway complete…

Belgian officials said they had arrested seven people in Brussels for their involvement in the coordinated attacks on Paris that killed more than 130 people by Sunday. Yet one suspect, believed to be involved in the terror scheme, is still at large.

Police named the man they were seeking as Salah Abdeslam, saying the 26-year-old was “dangerous.” Although he was born in Brussels, French authorities said he was a French national.

An international hunt for the man who, authorities believe helped organize the assaults with two of his brothers, has been launched.

One of the brothers died in the attacks, while the second is under arrest in Belgium, a judicial source said.

Abdelslam, according to reports, slipped through the fingers of the police.

Reports say he was pulled over on the French-Belgian border on Saturday hours after the attack. He was one of three passengers in the vehicle. Yet he was shortly released, upon presentation of an ID, following brief questioning.

His whereabouts since being released at the border are unknown.

Since Friday night’s attack an extensive search is underway for culprits involved in the scheme.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Monday that French police have raided homes of suspected Islamists overnight across the country.

“We are making use of the legal framework of the state of emergency to question people who are part of the radical jihadist movement…and all those who advocate hate of the republic,” Valls said on RTL radio.