Paris Attacker Abdeslam Caught Alive In Brussels After Firefight With Anti-Terror Police

On the heels of reports that Paris suspect Salah Abdeslam’s fingerprints were found during a raid on a Brussels apartment earlier this week and following media reports that he was likely one of two suspects who escaped when police closed in leaving one jihadist gunman dead, “the most wanted man on earth” (well, other than Bakr al-Baghdadi) has been caught alive in Molenbeek after a gunfight with police. 

Earlier today, there were reports of gunfire and explosions in the Brussels suburb which – rightly or wrongly – has gained a reputation for being synonymous with terror. Police helicopters were seen overhead, grenades were reportedly used, and white smoke rose from the building where Abdeslam and two other men were apparently hiding.

Shortly after the raid began, Salah was pinned down and reportedly injured. Unlike mastermind Abdelhamid Abaaoud, Abdeslam was apparently not ready to die for the cause and was drug away by police. Here’s the video: 

And here are some stills from the scene:

Finally, here’s a clip of Belgium PM Charles Michel hustling out of negotiations on the migrant crisis when he hears the news:

Belgian PM dashes from summit phone clamped to ear amid reports of shooting & police operation in brussels … https://t.co/phJDdEpaqV

— Imelda Flattery (@Imeldaflattery) March 18, 2016

Abdeslam’s arrest comes after a four-month manhunt and France will of course seek his extradition. As noted above, his capture also comes on the heels of a Tuesday raid that killed 35-year-old Mohamed Belkaid who, Bloomberg reminds us, “accompanied Abdeslam on a trip to Hungary in September and used a fake ID card four days after the Paris attacks in a money transfer from a Western Union office in Brussels to Hasna Ait Boulahcen, the niece of Abdelhamid Abaaoud.”

Belkaid’s body was found with a Kalashnikov and extra mags on Tuesday. In the apartment the men were sharing there was an Islamic State flag. 

Abdeslam will be extradicted “as rapidly as possible,” according to French President Francois Hollande. “It’s a very important result in the battle for democracy, for the values that we want to embody against this abominable form of obscurantism,” Hollande said, whatever that means.

“There have been arrests already and there will have to be more because we know that the network was quite widespread in Belgium, in France, in other countries of Europe as well,” he added.

“So until we have arrested all those who took part, contributed to or financed that terrorist network that committed the abominable attacks, the war acts of 13 November, our fight will not be over until then.”

Right. So strap in folks, because this is going to one long “war.”