Nacer Bendrer, the second suspect in the investigation on the attack at the Jewish museum in Brussels, will stay in jail until at least June. The 26-year-old appeared before the council chamber in Brussels, where his detention was re-approved, revealed the prosecutor and the suspect’s attorney, Mr. Thomas Descamps. Nacer Bendrer was taken in for questioning in Ceyreste, 30 km from Marseilles, on December 9th, 2014. French police found 2 automatic guns, a rifle, a loader, and ammunition at his home, as well as (and especially damning) a Kalashnikov-type automatic weapon very similar to the weapon used by Mehdi Nemmouche during the attack on the Jewish museum which left 4 people dead on May 24th, 2014.
Nacer Bendrer was detained in the same prison as Mehdi Nemmouche, in Salons-de-Provence, between 2008 and 2010. During that time a group of prisoners allegedly joined a radical religious movement. Mehdi Nemmouche and Nacer Bendrer allegedly led the group. Nacer Bendrer downplays this allegation, but the investigation shows the 2 suspects stayed in touch after their prison stay and in the weeks preceding the attack.
Mehdi Nemmouche allegedly called Nacer Bendrer from Brussels in April 2014, which led to Nacer Bendrer coming to the Belgian capital. 2 weeks later, it was Mehdi Nemmouche’s turn to allegedly travel to Marseilles. After the attack, Mehdi Nemmouche went to Marseilles again and was arrested on May 30th.
According to his attorney, Nacer Bendrer can explain his contacts with Mehdi Nemmouche. He maintains he is not in any way involved in the Jewish museum attack.
(Source: Belga)
