Belgian Security Services Knew Paris Terror Attacks Would Come Since 2012

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) – Information obtained by Belgian security services suggested that a certain terrorist cell was planning to perpetrate an act of terrorism in the French capital, the Laatste Nieuws daily reported.

Security services monitored conversations between suspected members of the terrorist group in a bugged apartment in Brussels’ Molenbeek district, which revealed plans for "attacks against Western democracy" and discussions about where to get weapons and explosives, according to the note dated April 2012.

The apartment in question belonged to Gelel Attar, a Belgian of Moroccan descent, who was arrested ten days ago near Casablanca on suspicion of involvement in the Paris terror attacks.

Attar is believed to be the right hand of Khalid Zerkani, who allegedly recruited two of the perpetrators of the Paris terrorist attacks, organizing for them to be sent to Syria. One of the terrorists, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was killed in the course of a counterterrorism operation in the suburbs of Paris on November 19.

A string of terrorist attacks in Paris killed 130 people and injured over 360. The Islamic State (IS) jihadist group, operating in Syria and Iraq, claimed responsibility for the attacks.