“President Obama spoke by phone today with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel and French President Francois Hollande to congratulate them on the arrest in Brussels today of Salah Abdeslam, a suspect in the November 13, 2015 ISIL terrorist attacks in Paris, France,” the White House said yesterday.
Obama commended the work of Belgian security services and noted that this significant arrest was the result of hard work and close cooperation between Belgian and French law enforcement authorities, the White House said.
“The President reiterated that the US stands together with Belgium and France in our shared struggle against the scourge of terrorism and once again pledged the full cooperation and support of the US in these efforts, reaffirming our shared commitment to degrading and destroying ISIL,” it said.
Minutes after the Paris attack, US officials were in close touch with national security and law enforcement officials in France and Belgium as they take steps to try to protect their country, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters during his daily news conference.
“The US obviously has significant resources and significant capabilities and we have used them to assist the French and the Belgians as they have conducted investigations into the attacks and as they have taken steps to try to safeguard their country,” Earnest added.
Abdeslam, 26, one of the most wanted men in Europe, was captured in Brussels yesterday during a raid by armed police, according to French police.
Abdeslam is believed to have played a key role in the November 13 attacks claimed by the Islamic State (ISIS) group that left 130 people dead.
Belgium has been at the centre of the investigation into the Paris attacks almost from day one.
PTI