Third Bataclan attacker eluded intelligence after returning from Syria

The third Bataclan attacker has been identified by French police as a 23-year-old French national who went to Syria two years ago but was not picked up by intelligence as a threat on his return. 

Investigators named Foued Mohamed-Aggad from Strasbourg as one of three gunmen who killed 90 people at the Bataclan in Paris last month after his mother told them that she had been informed of his death by text message from Syria.

Two of the three attackers killed themselves by exploding their suicide vests and another was shot dead by police.

They managed to identify Mohamed-Aggad after being alerted by his mother and then matching her DNA to his.

"The SMS message told her that her son had died, saying: 'He died on November 13 with his brothers," said Francoise Cotta, lawyer for the mother and her family.

"She was instantly struck by the horrific thought that he might have been one of the Bataclan suicide attackers," said Cotta.

Mohamed-Aggad went to Syria in late 2013 with a number of others from his neighbourhood in an area outside the eastern French city of Strasbourg. Seven of the group were arrested in May 2014 after returning to France.

It remained unclear when and how Mohamed-Aggad returned to France and intelligence services are under scrutiny over their monitoring of the movements of home-grown jihadists.

His older brother Karim, who also went to Syria, is in jail in France, the officials said.

The Bataclan shootings were part of a co-ordinated series of attacks in Paris in which assailants killed 130 people at a string of cafes, near a sports stadium and at the Bataclan.

The other two attackers at the concert hall have been named as Samy Amimour, 28, from Drancy, north east of Paris, and Ismail Omar Mostefai, 29, a Frenchman of Algerian descent who lived for a time in Chartres, south west of Paris.

Amimour also spent time in Syria, as did the presumed ringleader of the November 13 attackers, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, 28, a Belgian of Moroccan origin who died in a police raid the following week.

Another of the attackers, Salah Abdeslam, 26, French and born in Brussels, is still on the run.

Officials have yet to put names to all of eight dead gunmen and suicide bombers directly involved in last month's attacks, for which ISIS have claimed responsibility.

Additional reporting from Reuters

related articles
British parliament votes to bomb Islamic State in Syria
British parliament votes to bomb Islamic State in Syria

Parliament voted on Wednesday to launch bombing raids against Islamic State in Syria.

Tony Blair: Support for ISIS runs \'deep into parts of Muslim societies\'
Tony Blair: Support for ISIS runs 'deep into parts of Muslim societies'

The ideology of Islamic State has "deep roots" and support for its propaganda runs "deep into parts of Muslim societies", Tony Blair claimed yesterday.

Church website hacked by Islamic State
Church website hacked by Islamic State

Islamic State terrorists hack website of a Catholic church to post beheading video and warn that jihad will not cease until Rome is conquered.

Christian University president sparks outrage with call for students to carry concealed weapons
Christian University president sparks outrage with call for students to carry concealed weapons

Liberty University's Jerry Falwell Jr made his remarks at the college's weekly convocation on Friday night.

Archbishop resettles Syrian refugee family in Indianapolis despite governor\'s objections
Archbishop resettles Syrian refugee family in Indianapolis despite governor's objections

A Catholic Archbishop has helped to resettle a family of Syrian refugees in his archdiocese, despite being asked by the governor of his state not to do so.

Our greatest defence against Islamist extremism is free speech
Our greatest defence against Islamist extremism is free speech

When we criminalise or marginalise moderate Muslims or those of other faiths, we help win converts to destructive ideology, says Johnny Monro.

News
Campaign aims to mobilise 500,000 Christians for Christmas outreach
Campaign aims to mobilise 500,000 Christians for Christmas outreach

Shine Your Light is aiming to mobilise half a million Christians to share the gospel with five million people across the UK this Christmas, with more than 2,000 churches already signed up, organisers say.

The Church of England should repent for previous calls to ban 'conversion therapy'
The Church of England should repent for previous calls to ban 'conversion therapy'

The Church of England's uneasiness about the government's ‘conversion practices’ bill is a perfect lesson in the old adage, 'be careful what you wish for,' writes Dr Martin Davie.

Leaked Home Office report links 'Christian extremism' to traditionalist beliefs and immigration concerns
Leaked Home Office report links 'Christian extremism' to traditionalist beliefs and immigration concerns

An internal Home Office report lists concerns about immigration, multiculturalism and changing social values among the characteristics associated with what it calls "Christian extremism", it has been reported.

Tearfund calls for COP31 funding to reach farmers struggling with climate change and food insecurity
Tearfund calls for COP31 funding to reach farmers struggling with climate change and food insecurity

Tearfund warns that worsening climate conditions are threatening food production and pushing more people towards hunger.