Key suspect in Paris attacks arrested in Belgium

Belgian police announce that the suspect linked to both Paris and Brussels attacks is "in custody".
1 min read
08 April, 2016
Mohamed Abrini was spotted on CCTV with arrested terror suspect Salah Abdeslam [AFP]

Belgian authorities announced on Friday afternoon that "several arrests" have been made in relation to the Brussels attacks, including that of Mohamed Abrini, a suspect wanted for the Paris attacks in November.

This news comes a day after appeals were made to the public to help look for a key suspect in the March 22 attacks in which 32 people were killed.

The Belgian prosecutor's office initially refused to elaborate on the arrests; a Belgian federal police spokesman later confirmed that Paris attacks suspect Mohamed Abrini was among those "in custody".

Abrini, 31, is believed to have been instrumental in the Paris massacre in which 130 people were killed. 

He was on Europe's most wanted list after CCTV footage spotted him in a car with detained Islamic State group "logistics chief" Salah Abdeslam just two days before the Paris atrocities.

Abrini was described as "dangerous and probably armed" on his international arreest warrant, and is known to have been a childhood friend of Abdeslam.