Anti-terrorist action: seizure of computer belonging to Abaaoud, alleged leader of Verviers terrorist cell

Anti-terrorist action: seizure of computer belonging to Abaaoud, alleged leader of Verviers terrorist cell

The investigators from the Federal Criminal Police working on the Verviers terrorist cell have got hold of a laptop computer allegedly belonging to Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the alleged head of the terrorist cell, Belga has learned from a reliable source. In addition, the roles of other suspects involved in the case are now better known. Five members of the alleged cell are still being remanded in custody. The laptop in question was seized during searches led in Athens where Abaaoud was staying at the time the Verviers cell was broken up on January 15th this year. Omar D., an Algerian arrested for questioning and extradited to Belgium was putting up Abaaoud in the Greek capital. The laptop was found in D’s Athens apartment.

Meanwhile, the roles of other suspects involved in the case are now better understood. It is thus known that Karim A., who was arrested on May 30th before being released shortly afterwards, was indeed in contact with members of the terrorist cell. Souhaib El Abdi claims that on two occasions at the end of 2014 he went to the Turkish town of Adana where he made contact with members of Islamic State. Souhaib El Abdi was placed under arrest, which was extended two weeks ago by the Chambre des Mises en Accusation (the Criminal Division of Belgium’s Appeals Court). His brother Ismaïl appeared before the Brussels Chambre de Conseil (the court sitting in chambers) along with Marouane El Bali, Omar D. et Mohamed Hamja Arshad Mamood Hajni. The arrest warrants for the four men were extended. The Federal Prosecution Service does not wish to comment on the case.

(Source: Belga)


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