Third suspect charged in Belgium over Paris terror attacks: local media

Belgian authorities have charged a third suspect in connection with last week's Paris terror attacks, Belgian public broadcaster RTBF reported on Saturday.

The suspect was one of the people arrested in Thursday's raids in various districts of Brussels - and is suspected of participating in a terrorist attack and belonging to a terrorist group, the broadcaster added.

Police raided nine properties around Brussels on Thursday, targeting people suspected to have links with Bilal Hadfi, who blew himself up at the Stade de France football stadium. Seven people were questioned in the Brussels district of Molenbeek and released without charge, RTBF said.

Two other arrests as part of the broader investigation into the Paris attacks were made on Thursday in the nearby districts of Laeken and Jette. RTBF said one of those arrested was freed without charge. The identity of the other person, who has been charged, has not been made public.

Earlier on Friday, Belgian judicial authorities extended the detention period for the two other charged suspects by one month. According to RTBF, they are 27-year-old Mohammed Amri and 21-year-old Hamza Attouh.

The pair were arrested on Monday on suspicion of helping the Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam return to Brussels. Abdeslam remains at large and is the subject of an international arrest warrant. Enditem