Belgium Court Sentences Paris, Brussels Attacks Recruiter to 15 Years

Belgium court on Thursday sentenced a man responsible for recruitment of the jihadists, including the ones suspected of perpetration of the deadly attacks in both Paris and Brussels, to 15 years in custody, media reported.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — In 2015, Khalid Zerkani was sentenced to 12 years for his recruitment of Belgian Muslims to fight within the ranks of the radical extremists in Syria.

According to the Europe1 radio station, the appeal court of Brussels increased Zerkani's term of imprisonment up to 15 years after Zerkani's ties with the alleged perpetrators of Paris and Brussels terror attacks had been revealed.

The broadcaster added that Zerkani was involved in the recruitment of Abdelhamid Abaaoud, Chakib Akrouh and Reda Kriket.

The series of terrorist attacks carried out across Paris on November 13 claimed 130 lives and injured over 350 people.

On March 22, at least 35 people were killed and over 300 were wounded in several terrorist attacks in Brussels. On November 13, a series of terrorist attacks were staged across Paris, leading to the death of 130 people and injuring over 350 others.

Daesh, which is outlawed in many countries, including Russia and the United Kingdom, has claimed responsibility for the violence in both the French and the Belgian capitals.

A man reads messages at the Place de la Republique in Paris, Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. A subdued France paid homage Friday to those killed two weeks ago in the attacks that gripped Paris in fear and mourning, honoring each of the 130 dead by name as the president pledged to “destroy the army of fanatics” who claimed so many young lives.

© AP Photo / Jacques Brinon