Abdeslam may be willing to work with police, lawyer says

Salah Abdeslam, the last surviving suspect of the Paris terrorist attacks in November, could be prepared to work with the authorities in their investigation in return for a lesser sentence, according to his lawyer, Sven Mary.
 
Following his arrest in Molenbeek on Friday afternoon and a stopover at Saint Pierre Hospital for a gunshot wound in his leg sustained during the arrest, Abdeslam was taken under heavy guard to the maximum security wing of Bruges prison.

His defence lawyer is Brussels-based Sven Mary, known for his high-profile clients, including Fouad Belkacem of Sharia4Belgium, gangster Murat Kaplan and the late mafia boss Silvio Aquino. Mary announced an unexpected confession from his client at the weekend. “I was present on 13 November in Paris, and I was to blow myself up, but in the end I did not,” Abdeslam stated. “Because I could not go through with it.”

According to Mary, that statement demonstrates that his client is “trustworthy”, and it would be helpful if he were given the chance to talk. “My client could help cast light on the attacks,” he said. “It would be a pity not to listen to him. Abdeslam has any future at all, it will be as an informant.”In return, Abdeslam would be looking for a reduced sentence or improved prison conditions. However, Belgium has no legal framework that would make a quid pro quo enforceable, and the French authorities are determined to extradite him as quickly as possible.

It was also reported at the weekend that a suspicious pizza delivery may have been the final clue needed by police to track Abdeslam to the address in Rue des Quatre Vents where he was discovered on Friday.

According to Het Nieuwsblad, investigators knew he was in telephone contact with his friend Abid Aberkan, whose family occupied the house. Police had the address under surveillance, as well as a nearby house in Rue de la Savonnerie.

Aberkan’s wife called in an order for pizza but had it delivered to Rue de la Savonnerie. From there, the pizzas were carried round the corner to the house in Rue des Quatre Vents, raising suspicions among the police.

Photo: Laurie Dieffembacq/BELGA