Germany arrests man who may have sold guns to Paris attackers

The 34-year-old is now in custody on suspicion of arms trading


Reuters November 27, 2015
The 34-year-old is now in custody on suspicion of arms trading. PHOTO: REUTERS

BERLIN:

Prosecutors in the southern German city of Stuttgart confirmed on Friday they had arrested a 34-year-old man on suspicion of arms dealing but declined to comment on a report that he may have supplied the militants in Paris with four guns.


Paris shootings, explosions leave at least 128 dead

"I can confirm that a man is in custody on suspicion of arms trading," a spokesman for the prosecutor in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg told Reuters, adding that the arrest had been made on Tuesday.


Earlier on Friday, German newspaper Bild reported that the man was suspected of selling four weapons to the militants who killed 130 people in Paris on November 13.


The paper said four assault rifles -- two AK-47s made in China and two Zasatva M70s made in the former Yugoslavia -- were sold online by the man on Nov. 7 to a buyer of "Arab descent".


Islamic State claims responsibility for Paris attacks

Four emails since found on the man's smartphone indicate that he was in touch with an "Arab in Paris", Bild said. The paper added that French prosecutors believe the weapons were used in the Paris attacks.

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