Paris suspect Abdeslam claims no knowledge of Brussels attacks

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Salah Abdeslam, who was shot and captured a week ago today in the Belgian capital, has also dropped his fight against extradition to France. Currently held in a top security jail in Bruges, he says he wants to go to France to “explain himself”. Abdeslam, a Belgian-born French national, had strong links to the IS gang that murdered at least 31 and wounded 300 in suicide blasts at Brussels airport and the city’s Maelbeek Metro station. There is mounting evidence that they were part of the same network that slaughtered 130 in Paris on November 13. The Brussels attacks are widely thought to have been in retaliation for Abdeslam’s arrest – or to have been brought forward for fear that he might give the gang away under interrogation. But his lawyer Sven Mary said “he was not aware” of plans for the terrorist outrages. He said Abdeslam, 26, who is thought to have driven three suicide bombers to the slaughter in Paris in November before backing out of blowing himself up, is abandoning his fight to stay in Belgium. Mr Mary said: “Salah Abdeslam told me that he wishes to return to France as soon as possible. “I will ask the investigating magistrate not to oppose his departure. “The most important part of the dossier is in France. His explanations have to be presented there.” Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said last week that at worst it could take three months for Abdeslam to be handed over. With his cooperation he could be there in weeks.