site.btaCourt Finally Decides to DeliverMan Suspected in Terrorist Involvementto France

Court Finally Decides to Deliver Man Suspected in Terrorist Involvement to France

Sofia, August 16 (BTA) - Murad Hamid will be handed over to France on the basis of a European arrest warrant after Hamid did not avail himself of the three-day rejected his initial statement that he wanted immediate extradition to France.

Murad Hamid, who is held in Bulgaria on suspicions of involvement in a terrorist group, declared his consent to be extradited to France at a hearing of his case by the Sofia City Court last week.

Hamid, 20, brother-in-law of "Charlie Hebdo" attacker Cherif Kouachi, entered Bulgaria from Serbia, declaring to the border authorities that the purpose of his visit was tourism. On July 28, Hamyd crossed into Turkey, where he was detained because of a five-year bar on entering that country. The Turkish authorities returned him to Bulgaria. On July 28, he was accommodated at a centre for illegal immigrants. Meanwhile, information was received from France, according to which he was an especially dangerous travelling fighter of Islamic State. On these grounds, the Chairperson of the State Agency for National Security ordered his expulsion from Bulgaria and a ten-year bar on entering the country. Hamyd was due to be handed over to Serbia, but a European Arrest Warrant issued by France arrived on July 29, and he was detained in Bulgaria. The French authorities want him in connection with terrorism-related activities.

Until he is extradited, the French citizen will remain in remand. The decision of the court is final and cannot be appealed.