Key suspect in Paris attacks contacts lawyer - report

Saleh Abdeslam

Saleh Abdeslam, a key suspect in the November 13 Paris terrorist attacks who has since been on the run, has contacted a lawyer in Belgium, the Belga news agency reported on Thursday, citing an unnamed source.

Abdeslam - a French citizen who lived in Belgium - was in Paris at the time of the attacks, in which 130 people were killed by assailants armed with machine guns and explosive vests. 

His brother Brahim was among them and blew himself up at a restaurant.

Since then, Abdeslam's whereabouts have been unknown. Two acquaintances are believed to have helped him return to Brussels, but a series of police raids failed to locate him.

There have been reports that Abdeslam may have made his way to Syria. The lawyer, Sven Mary, has not commented, according to Belga.


 He had said in December that he was prepared to represent Abdeslam, Le Soir newspaper reported.

Mary told the newspaper at the time that his motivation was to fight against the "abuse of power", arguing that the prosecution services were "surfing on fear to get even more power", in the wake of the Paris attacks.
Federal prosecutors also gave no information on Thursday.

"For now this is nothing but a rumour, which we will not react to," the prosecution services told Belga.
Some media were speculating that Abdeslam might be ready to turn himself in.