Next step for Paris suspect is extradition
BRUSSELS — Salah Abdeslam, the top suspect in last year's deadly Paris attacks, was discharged Saturday from a Brussels hospital along with a suspected accomplice and will now face official questioning and a fast-track effort to extradite him to France.
Abdeslam was shot in the leg and his companion also injured when they were captured Friday by police. Yvan Mayeur, the Brussels mayor, announced on Twitter Saturday that “the two presumed terrorists” had been discharged from CHU St. Pierre hospital.
Abdeslam, 26, a French national, is subject to a European arrest warrant issued by France. His capture in the Brussels neighborhood of Molenbeek after four months on the run brought relief to people who have seen his “wanted” poster all over two countries for months.
French President Francois Hollande warned that more arrests will come as authorities try to dismantle a network involved in the attacks that is much larger than originally suspected. Hollande is holding an emergency defense meeting Saturday in Paris.
Families of victims and survivors want Abdeslam to face justice in France for the Nov. 13 attacks on a rock concert, stadium and cafes, which killed 130 victims and several attackers. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility.
Once doctors consider Abdeslam fit to face questioning, he will be interrogated by Belgian investigators, possibly in the presence of French colleagues. He may be assisted by his Belgian lawyer, identified as Sven Mary.
French anti-terrorist judges could file an extradition request as early as this weekend.
Belgian federal prosecutor Eric Van der Sypt said an investigating magistrate has 24 hours following a detention to issue an arrest warrant, though that deadline can be prolonged for another day. Then Abdeslam will have to appear before a pretrial court, which will decide whether he stays in jail for up to another month.“If he starts talking then I presume it will mean he stays longer in Belgium,” Van der Sypt said. But “sooner or later he will be extradited to France.”French and Belgian antiterrorism prosecutors plan a teleconference call Saturday during which matters including Abdeslam's extradition will be discussed, Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office spokesman Thierry Werts said.A 2002 agreement among European Union member states speeds up the process, making it a purely judicial process and removing any political aspect.
