Syrian, Egyptian passports found near bodies of Paris attackers
Syrian and Egyptian passports were found near the bodies of the assailants involved in a wave of deadly attacks on Paris, Al Arabiya News Channel correspondent reported Saturday.
French police so far reported that a Syrian passport was found but did not say where exactly it was found, although they indicated a possible Syrian connection was a working hypothesis for investigators after assailants hit six separate locations in Paris late Friday, killing 128.
However, Reuters citing sources close to the investigation said the passport was found near the body of one of the suicide bombers who blew himself up on Friday near a Paris soccer stadium.
A French national is also believed to be among four men who stormed a Paris concert hall overnight, killing at least 82 people, police and a source close to the investigation said Saturday.
Investigators said they found the body of a French national who was known to intelligence services and indicated he was likely one of four men who attacked the Bataclan concert hall late Friday.
They did not give details of his identity or his background.
Bataclan concern hall was one of the areas hit where witnesses said the gunmen shouted to the crowd: “Allahu Akbar. We’re stronger than the French.” Other witnesses also said the gunmen explained their violent acts were in response to France over Syria.
Some 300 people were hospitalized following the deadly attacks in Paris of whom 80 are in “critical” condition, the city’s hospital authority said Saturday.
A prosecutor said there could be eight gunmen killed across the capital, with more still at large behind seven attacks in Paris.
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) claimed responsibility for a coordinated assault by the gunmen and bombers, and vowed that France will continue to be a target for the militant group.
France furthered its involvement in its fight against ISIS militants. On Sunday, the French army bombed an oil supply center held by ISIS in eastern Syria after it deployed aircraft carrier in anti-ISIS fight in Iraq and Syria.
Man arrested in Germany
Meanwhile, a man arrested in southern Germany last week, who had weapons including machine guns and explosives in his car, was “likely linked to attackers in Paris,” German media reported Saturday.
Police in the southern region of Bavaria confirmed the arrest on Nov. 5 during a routine check on a motorway, saying “many machine guns, revolvers and explosives” were found in the vehicle of the suspect.
However, the police spokesman would not confirm the link with Friday’s attacks in Paris that left more than 120 people dead.
“I cannot tell you what he was planning to do with the weapons,” he added.
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