Paris attacks: French border police detained Salah Abdeslam but released 26-year-old main suspect

A massive international manhunt for Salah Abdeslam, the 26-year-old main suspect of the Paris terror attack.

Officers, earlier, stopped Abdeslam near the Belgian border while he was driving from Paris to Brussels. However, he was released after having shown his ID. Even though Abdeslam was already listed among the suspects, the information was not available to border police when officers briefly detained him.

Abdeslam is believed to be among the surviving members of the extremist group that killed 129 people on Friday in multiple terror attacks around Paris. French police got hold of Abdeslam who was in a car stopped by officers only hours after the attacks. However, the police officers released him among other occupants.

According to police, Abdeslam was “directly involved” in the attacks. Seven suicide bombers including Ibrahim Abdeslam, one of Abdeslam’s brothers, have died in the Friday attacks. (Salah) Abdeslam is believed to have rented a black Volkswagen Polo, with three loaded Kalashnikovs and a black rucksack, which was used to attack the Bataclan concert hall.

While releasing a wanted photo for Abdeslam, Belgian police have warned the public not to approach him. “Do not intervene on your own, under any circumstances,” Ninemsn quoted Belgian authorities.

Belgian authorities, however, arrested seven suspects while France reacted to the attacks with heavy force in Syria. French authorities are yet to release an official list of victims. However, 103 out of 129 victims have been identified, The Guardian reports.

France sent 10 fighter jets to destroy two ISIS sites in Raqqa. A command post, recruitment centre, arms depot and a training camp were targeted. However, there is an apparent conviction that Syria needs a long-lasting resolution.

Iran, Saudi Arabia, Britain, Russia, France and the United States have signed a statement on Saturday to support a Jan. 1 deadline for dialogs to start between the Assad regime and the opposition. It also targets to achieve a May 14 deadline for ceasefire in Syria.

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