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Suicide Bomber's Explosive Belt May Have Been Discovered In Paris Suburb

by John Haltiwanger
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A street cleaner found an explosive belt in a trash can in Montrouge, just south of Paris, Vice News reports.

The belt apparently did not have a detonator but was equipped with two explosive charges. Police are now at the scene.

This is significant for several reasons.

The belt is similar to those used by the perpetrators of the Paris terror attacks on November 13.

The phone of Salah Abdeslam, one of the suspects who hasn't yet been found, was reportedly traced to the Montrouge area in the aftermath of the attacks.

Thus, this explosive belt could've belonged to Abdeslam.

Suicide belt found in a garbage can in Montrouge near Paris (Salah Abdeslam's?) https://t.co/Tim87WdhWy — Mathieu von Rohr (@mathieuvonrohr) November 23, 2015
Belgium releases two new photos of #Parisattacks suspect Salah Abdeslam, still at large tonight pic.twitter.com/IWH6pM58Iw — Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) November 17, 2015
French Prosecutor confirms explosive vest & mobile phone found in rubbish bin outside Paris.Fugitive Abdeslam drove nr area after massacres — Bill Neely (@BillNeelyNBC) November 23, 2015

The belt's discovery might also confirm the theory he abandoned his mission and chose not to detonate the suicide belt before fleeing, or it simply malfunctioned.

Abdeslam is believed to be in Belgium, where the situation is particularly tense and the capital, Brussels, is on lockdown due to concerns over a potentially imminent attack. Between Sunday and Monday, 21 people were reportedly arrested across Belgium, but Abdeslam was not found.

Brussels prosecutor - 5 more raids in Brux, 2 Liege. 5 arrests. 21 arrested since yday. Being questioned — emma murphy (@emmamurphyitv) November 23, 2015
#BREAKING Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam not found: Belgian prosecutor — Agence France-Presse (@AFP) November 22, 2015

At present, Abdeslam is essentially the world's most wanted man.

Citations: French Police Find Explosive Belt in Trash Can in Paris Suburb (VICE NEWS)