Paris terror attacks mastermind could have been caught in Athens a YEAR ago: Greece admits they were on ringleader's tail but he slipped through the net 

  • Greek police tried to capture mastermind Abdelhamid Abaaoud in January
  • Authorities believed he was running Belgian terror cell from Athens base
  • Conflicting reports have emerged over whether the jihadist was captured and later escaped, or if he managed to completely evade the authorities
  • Abaaoud died in a gun-fight with police five days after Paris terror attacks
  • For more on the Paris terror attacks visit www.dailymail.co.uk/ParisAttacks

By Stephanie Linning for MailOnline

Published: 13:44 EST, 8 December 2015 | Updated: 16:03 EST, 8 December 2015

Greek police reportedly tried to capture one of the masterminds behind the Paris terror attacks in an operation almost a year ago.

A Belgian anti-terrorism source told the BBC that authorities were on the trail of Abdelhamid Abaaoud in January of this year but that the extremist somehow managed to slip through the net.

Abaaoud, who recruited two of the jihadists who carried out the Paris attacks last month, was understood to have been running a Belgian terror cell by mobile phone from his base in Athens. 

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Abdelhamid Abaaoud, pictured, who recruited two of the jihadists who carried out the Paris attacks last month, was understood to have been running a Belgian terror cell by mobile phone from his base in Athens

Abdelhamid Abaaoud, pictured, who recruited two of the jihadists who carried out the Paris attacks last month, was understood to have been running a Belgian terror cell by mobile phone from his base in Athens

He died in a gun-fight with police five days after the wave terror attacks in the French capital in which 130 people lost their lives.

It emerged last month that Abaaoud had planned an earlier attack in the eastern Belgian city of Verviers that was thwarted when police raided the terrorists' hideout, killing two suspects.

Police found four Kalashnikovs, four handguns, ammunition and explosives during the January 15 raid.

The source told the BBC today that a senior Belgian police officer was leading the hunt for Abaaoud alongside Greek authorities and that the officers had planned to target him before the January raid.

Greek police carried out raids on two flats in Athens on January 17, two days after the Verviers raids. Conflicting reports have emerged over whether Abaaoud was apprehended. 

Earlier reports suggested Abaaoud was captured but he later gave authorities the slip.

But, speaking today, the unnamed source told the BBC that Abaaoud was not detained during the raid. Greek authorities have not confirmed any details. 

Abaaoud died in a gun-fight with French police five days after the terror attacks that left 130 people dead

Abaaoud died in a gun-fight with French police five days after the terror attacks that left 130 people dead

Earlier this year, Abaaoud told an IS propaganda magazine he was arrested in Europe in January preparing a mission to kill civilians and behead policemen. He claims he was not detained.

He said: 'My name and picture were all over the news yet I was able to stay in their homeland, plan operations against them and leave safely when doing so became necessary.' 

Last month it emerged that Abaaoud had shuttled between Syria and Europe, exploiting the migrant crisis on EU borders, despite being on wanted lists.

The 27-year-old had been able to plan two atrocities and brainwash hundreds of young men to join Islamic State, including his 13-year-old brother. 

He also recruited two brothers – Brahim and Salah Abdeslam – took part in the cafe and restaurant attacks in Paris on 13 November.

Brahim, 31, blew himself up in the Comptoir Voltaire bar while Salah, 26, is the subject of an international manhunt. He was stopped by police on the Belgian border but not detained. 

 

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