Brother-in-law of Charlie Hebdo killer detained in Bulgaria on suspicion of trying to join extremists in Syria

Mourad Hamyd initially arrested as third suspect involved in attack on magazine

Ambulances and police officers gather in front of the offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo on January 7, 2015, in Paris, France (Getty)

The brother-in-law of one of the men who attacked the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris has been detained in Bulgaria on suspicion of trying to join extremists in Syria, authorities have confirmed.

Mourad Hamyd was initially arrested as a third suspect involved in the January 2015 attack on the magazine, suspected of acting as a getaway driver.

He was released without charge after his classmates launched a social media campaign to clear his name - saying he was in class at the time of the attack.

The Paris prosecutor's office told AP someone "close to Hamyd" flagged his probable trip to Syria, and he was detained near the border in late July.

Hamyd was arrested in Turkey on 28 July as he tried to travel to Syria to join Isis, the French Journal du Dimanche reported. He was later deported to Bulgaria.

No weapons were found in his possession, the weekly paper reported, but a military uniform, gloves and sturdy shoes were found in his backpack.

Said and Cherif Kouachi, aged 34 and 32 (PA)

Speaking to AFP at the time of his arrest in January 2015, Mr Mourad described himself as a normal 18-year-old who lives with his parents, saying he had “nothing to do with this whole thing” and hopes it will not affect his future.

“I was stunned, completely overwhelmed by the events,” he told AFP in the presence of his lawyer and family members.

“I'm in shock, people said horrible and false things about me on social media even though I am a normal student who lives quietly with his parents."

Hamyd's sister was married to Cherif Kouachi, one of two brothers who carried out the deadly attack at the Charlie Hebdo offices which killed 12 people.