(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) French police have detained six people who were close to one of the terrorists who attacked Paris Friday night. Police said Sunday the father brother and sister-in-law of Omar Ismail Mostefai were among those detained.
Mostefai was one of the seven attackers who died during the simultaneous attacks. French prosecutor Francois Molins said Mostefai was known to police as a petty criminal but had "never been implicated in an investigation or a terrorist association." French authorities say a Syrian passport was found next to the body of one of the attackers raising suspicions the man could have entered Europe as part of the influx of migrants fleeing Syria's civil war. "We confirm that the (Syrian) passport holder came through the Greek island of Leros on October 3 where he was registered under EU rules" said the Greek minister for citizen protection Nikos Toskas. French Senator Joelle Maylam said Sunday there continues to be denial about issues related to the arrival of thousands of refugees on the European continent. "We need to look into the reason why people are becoming radical she said. "Radicalization is truly important." European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker did not agree with Maylam. "There is no need to revise the European Union's entire refugee policy" he said Sunday at the G-20 summit in Turkey. "Those who organized these attacks and those who carried them out are exactly those who the refugees are fleeing." In another development police said Sunday a car used by gunmen who fired on people in restaurants during the attacks was found in the eastern suburb of Montreuil. National mourning France entered a second day of national mourning Sunday following the bloodbath Friday night carried out by three teams of gunmen some wearing suicide vests at multiple locations. At least 129 people died in the rampage. Another 352 people were wounded in the killing spree including 99 in critical condition. French President Francois Hollande said the attacks claimed by the Islamic State group amounted to an "act of war" against his country and he feared terrorists may be planning more attacks. In its claim of responsibility Islamic State lashed out at the countries trying to suppress its attempt to establish a "caliphate" in Syria and Iraq and said France remains "at the top" of its list of preferred targets. IS explains attack motive
An Islamic State message posted online Saturday said the Paris attacks were a response to the airstrikes the United States and its allies have been launching against its fighters in Iraq and Syria for more than a year. Six sites across Paris were attacked including restaurants a football (soccer) stadium and a concert hall. While all known attackers were killed it was not clear whether there might be more or if accomplices are still lurking in Paris neighborhoods. Video emerged Friday from the Bataclan concert hall where terrorists killed at least 89 people attending a rock concert. Police were seen caught in a gunbattle with some attackers with several of the officers taking cover. Other video taken with a cell phone in an alley behind Bataclan showed people pouring out a back exit door some limping away wounded others carrying bodies and the wounded. Screams could be distinctly heard. France tops IS target list The Islamic State singled out France in its online statement. "The stench of death will not leave their noses" it said of French leaders "As long as they remain at the forefront of the crusaders' campaign dare to curse our prophet boast of a war with Islam in France and strike Muslims in the lands of the caliphate with warplanes that were of no use to them in the streets and rotten alleys of Paris." A French counterterrorism official said authorities are still trying to find out whether the attackers who died in the assault were French residents. Security has been stepped up to guard against further violence. In Washington White House officials said U.S. President Barack Obama huddled with his national security team Saturday before leaving for the G20 summit in Turkey. Officials said Obama and his aides have seen no intelligence that contradicts French assertions that Islamic State was behind the Paris attacks. There is no specific threat to the United States at this time. On Saturday police in Belgium arrested several people during raids in a Brussels neighborhood. The Belgian prosecutor's office says a car rented in Belgium was found near the Bataclan concert hall in Paris. Hunt for attackers President Hollande who said hunting down the attackers is a top priority predicted "France will triumph over this barbarity." He called an emergency Cabinet meeting Saturday and mobilized the nation's security forces at the "highest levels." Hollande who called off his trip to Turkey for a G20 summit scheduled to begin Sunday asked Paris residents to stay in their homes Saturday. Many of those who ventured outside flocked to medical centers to donate blood for the wounded. Along with French citizens the dead include people from Belgium Tunisia Britain Portugal Romania Span and Sweden. A 23-year-old U.S. student from California was also killed. Flowers candles and notes were strewn in front of Le Carillon bar and Le Petit Cambodge restaurant where gunmen killed at least a dozen people. Both are popular spots located near the Saint Martin canal in northern Paris. On Saturday evening a vigil was held at Place de la Republique. Such acts of solidarity are taking place around the city. Friday's assault evoked memories of an attack by Islamist gunmen in January that killed 17 people including staff members of the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo. Hollande ordered France's borders closed – an unprecedented act in 21st-century Europe. But the main airport in Paris remains open and trains are still running.