Assassination of Massoud. Searches in Brussels

(Archives B2 *) First thing this morning, around ten searches took place simultaneously in several towns in Belgium, in the suburbs of Brussels, in Mons and in Louvain. These actions are part of an investigation initiated by the Brussels judge, Christian de Valkeneer, on false passports.

A bunch of fake passports

« The objective is to find the gang that is trafficking fake passports » says Jos Colpin, spokesperson for the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office. Several people were still heard last night by the federal police. They should then be made available to the public prosecutor. " Their fate should be decided [today] by the investigating judge ", continues the spokesperson for the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office, " when the results of the searches will be known ". Documents were indeed also seized by the anti-terrorist section.

We remember that Commander Massoud was killed during a suicide attack staged by two people, holders of false Belgian passports, posing as journalists. These passports had been stolen from the Belgian consulate in Strasbourg and the embassy in The Hague (Netherlands).

Nicolas Gros-Verheyde, in Brussels

(*) Article published in France-Soir, November 2001