The mastermind behind the Islamic State terror attacks in Paris slipped into Britain on a false passport just months before and met British jihadists to seek “logistical support”, a media report said.
The mastermind behind the Islamic State terror attacks in Paris slipped into Britain on a false passport just months before and met British jihadists to seek “logistical support”, a media report said. Abdelhamid Abaaoud (28), killed in a police raid days after the Paris atrocity, is thought to have stayed in the UK only for a short period.
He reportedly travelled to London and met suspected British jihadists to seek “logistical support” from extremists, despite being on international terror watch lists, The Sun claimed.
One counter-terror source told the newspaper they were investigating the possibility he arrived in Kent, south-east England. The revelations about Abaaoud’s movements before the attack come weeks after it emerged that he had been in contact with a network of associates in Birmingham in the run up to the attacks.
Data on his phone, reportedly, showed he was in contact with Moroccans living in the Alum Rock and Bordesley Green areas of the city. The police warned residents in the city to be “alert, vigilant but not alarmed” and said they are helping detectives investigate the attacks.
Abaaoud is believed to have masterminded the attacks against bars, restaurants, a concert hall and sports stadium last month. The Belgian-born terrorist was shot dead days later during a police siege in Paris that killed 130 people.
Meanwhile, another accused of the massacre, Samy Amimour (28) was buried in Seine-Saint-Denis suburb of Paris on Thursday.
