Four people detained in France for terrorism link

PARIS, Nov 23 (AFP) – Four people, including a brother of one of three French nationals still held as terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay, have been detained in connection with a probe concerning the financing of Islamic terrorism, officials said Tuesday.

Djamel Khalid, the brother of Ridouane Khalid who is being held at the US detention facility in Cuba, was detained early Tuesday north of Paris along with his wife.

He is suspected of having kept part of a EUR 1 million booty from faked robberies organized by an alleged group of Islamists.

One of those involved in the scam, Hassan Baouchi, was arrested and placed under investigation Saturday. Baouchi, who was employed by the Brink’s security company to maintain and replenish cash machines, had falsely claimed to have been robbed while working.

Another couple who was not identified has also been detained in connection with the probe.

According to judicial sources, the money from the scam went to finance two Moroccan Islamist groups.