Oussama Atar Believed to Have Planned Paris, Brussels Attacks

Authorities in France believe they have identified the person who planned the recent terror attacks in Paris and Brussels as Oussama Atar, a Syrian-based ISIS member with both Belgian and Moroccan citizenship.

Atar, 32, had already been a suspect in the March 22 Brussels attacks. He is now linked to last November’s Paris attacks as well, Agence France-Press reported. “He’s the only coordinator from Syria to have been identified during the investigations,” a source told AFP.

Atar is also believed to be known by the pseudonym Abou (or Abu) Ahmad and is a cousin of two brothers who carried out the Brussels airport and metro attacks and were killed there. Two of Atar’s other cousins were arrested June 18 after they planned to attack a public screening of a Euro 2016 football match in Belgium.

Officials spoke anonymously to reporters because the investigation is ongoing. Atar’s name has been linked to the attacks unofficially for months. According to The Associated Press, the investigators now believe the same ISIS cell planned and carried out both the Paris and the Brussels attacks, which killed a combined 162 people.

France is preparing to observe the anniversary of the Paris attacks this weekend. The Bataclan concert hall where 90 were killed during a show will reopen Saturday with a concert by Sting, and French President Francois Hollande will preside over a commemoration on Sunday with survivors and family members of those killed in attendance.

The attacks in Paris took place last year on Nov. 13.

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