Bassam Ayachi « the oldest jihadist from Belgium » arrested in Paris

According to the French press, Bassam Ayachi, the former Imam of the Islamic Center of Belgium, considered the oldest jihadist based in Belgium, was today arrested in Paris. The Federal Prosecution still didn’t confirm the information.

Originally from Syria, Ayachi lived for many years in Molenbeek and left Belgium in 2013 to fight in his home country.

Bassam Ayachi is suspected by the Brussels justice of having set up channels to send dozens of young people from Brussels to fight in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. He has always denied these accusations and has never been sentenced in any terrorism case.

Terrorisme : Bassam Ayachi, "le plus vieux jihadiste de Belgique", arrêté à Paris et mis en examenhttps://t.co/IbBE2YhGSt pic.twitter.com/YvgceUOeeL

— franceinfo (@franceinfo) April 4, 2018