Key Paris Attacks Suspect Charged With Attempted Murder in Brussels Shootout

Paris terrorist attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam was charged with attempted murder by Belgian authorities Thursday.

A key suspect in the November 13 Paris attacks who last month allegedly engaged in a shootout with police in Brussels, Abdeslam appeared before a Belgian judge Thursday to hear the new charge.

Four police officers were injured, an Algerian suspect and an Islamist gunman were killed on March 15 in the shootout at a suspected militant safe house in the Brussels district of Forest. Investigators found fingerprints of Abdeslam at the scene and he was arrested three days later.

The 26-year-old born in Belgium to Moroccan parents is currently awaiting extradition to France as a key suspect in last November’s attacks in Paris that killed 130 people.

Belgian police have also questioned him about potential links to the suicide bombers who attacked the Brussels Airport and metro station on March 22, killing 32 people.

Abdeslam has told investigators that he arranged logistics for the Paris attacks and had planned to blow himself up at a sports stadium in the city on November 13, but changed his mind at the last minute.

Without giving further details, Abdeslam’s lawyer has confirmed that his client had admitted being in Paris during the attacks.