Paris attacks suspect charged over Brussels shootout

Salah Abdeslam is accused of attempted murder during raid in Belgian capital

Belgian police and security personnel during a search in Brussels. Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam has been charged with attempted murder over a shootout with police that took place last month in Brussels. File  photograph: Stephanie Lecocq/EPA
Belgian police and security personnel during a search in Brussels. Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam has been charged with attempted murder over a shootout with police that took place last month in Brussels. File photograph: Stephanie Lecocq/EPA

Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam has been charged with attempted murder over a shootout with police that took place last month in Brussels.

The new charge was made public in a statement from Belgian federal prosecutors.

Four police officers were fired on and slightly injured when they arrived on March 15th to search what they thought was an empty apartment in the Forest district.

Police fatally shot an Algerian suspect during the incident. Abdeslam’s fingerprints were found at the scene.

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Three days later, Abdeslam was arrested in another Brussels hideout.

Key suspect

Abdeslam is a key suspect in the November 13th attacks that killed 130 people in Paris.

Belgian police have also been questioning him over potential links to the three suicide bombers who attacked Brussels airport and subway on March 22nd, killing 32 people.

PA