Alleged mastermind had contacts in UK

By Deutsche Presse-Agentur

The alleged mastermind of last month’s coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris had links to several people in Britain, and at least one of the suspects had visited the country before the attacks, reports said Saturday.

Local police said they are cooperating with French and Belgian authorities but declined to confirm or deny the reports.

The Wall Street Journal said security services have identified “several people (in Britain) suspected of having connections to Abdelhamid Abaaoud.”

Abaaoud is believed to have coordinated the series of attacks in Paris on November 13 targeting a national football stadium, a concert hall, bars and restaurants that killed 130 people and left more than 350 wounded.

Two unidentified Western officials were quoted as saying the British contacts of Abaaoud included people “of Moroccan heritage” and were based in the Birmingham area.

“At least one person connected to the attacks is believed to have traveled to the UK before the shootings,” the newspaper said.

Abdelhamid Abaaoud

Abaaoud, who had Belgian and Moroccan nationality, was killed in a police raid at an apartment north of Paris on November 18.

The Guardian also said “counter-terrorism officials have established” that one of the Paris terrorists visited London and Birmingham earlier this year.

“In both cities he met with people suspected of having the intention and capability of plotting or assisting terrorist activity against the UK,” the Guardian said, without giving any source for its report.

West Midlands Police, who cover Birmingham, responded to the reports with a statement saying counter-terrorism officers are supporting the investigation of the Paris attacks.

Assistant Chief Constable Marcus Beale said the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit is “working hand-in-hand with counter terrorism colleagues” in Britain to provide “support to the French and Belgian investigations and of course to address any associated terrorism threat to the UK.”

Beale did not comment on the alleged links between the Paris attackers and terrorist suspects in Birmingham.