Salah Abdeslam: Police stopped Paris attack suspect near Belgian border hours after killings - but let him go
Abdeslam was one of three people travelling in a car that was pulled over briefly near the Belgian border on Saturday
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A man who is believed to be one of the gunmen involved in Friday's bloody attacks in Paris was pulled over briefly by police near the French-Belgian border on Saturday morning, but was later released.
French police today issued an arrest warrant for Salah Abdeslam, a 26-year-old French national who is thought to be one of the three brothers who took part in the attacks, which killed at least 129 people.
Salah rented the Volkswagen Polo which was parked outside the Bataclan concert hall, where 89 people were murdered during an Eagles of Death Metal concert.
Speaking to the Associated Press, four French officials said he was one of three people travelling in a car which was stopped at the French-Belgian border, around 120 miles from Paris, early on Saturday morning, hours after he had been identified as the renter of the car.
He was questioned and his ID was checked, but he was later released and is now the focus of an international manhunt.
One of the brothers, named as Ibrahim, died on Friday, and another unnamed brother has been arrested in Brussels, one of seven men arrested in the Belgian capital in connection with the attacks.
Since the attacks, police have found three Kalashnikov assault rifles and ammunition inside a car that was abandoned in the Parisian suburb of Montreuil. It is also thought to have been rented to one of the brothers.
Salah is thought to be the third brother. French police described him as "dangerous", and urged the public not to approach him if they spot him.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments