Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam 'may have escaped' Brussels raid

Fingerprints belonging to Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam have been found in a Brussels flat raided by police.

Belgian state broadcaster RTBF citing official sources said that it was "more than likely" he was one of two people who escaped during the raid on Tuesday (15 March). One suspect was shot dead in the raid on the flat in the city's Forest district.

"We can confirm that fingerprints of Salah Abdeslam were found in the apartment," said Eric Van Der Sypt, spokesman for Belgian federal prosecutors. He declined to provide further details "in the interest of the investigation".

Belgian-born extremist Abdeslam, 26, has been subject of a massive manhunt since the Paris attacks on 13 November, in which 130 people were murdered. His brother, Brahim, was killed after detonating a suicide belt in the coordinated attacks on bars and restaurants in the French capital.

Four officers were injured when French and Belgian police stormed the flat on Tuesday. Police said they were fired at from an apartment window by Algerian national Mohamed Belkaid, who was shot dead by police snipers. Belkaid, who was born in 1980, was living in the country illegally and was not previously known to police.

After the Paris attacks, Abdeslam is believed to have returned to Belgium, crossing into the country with two accomplices who have since been arrested.

Belgian police are currently holding eight people suspected of involvement with the Paris attacks suspects. A further 11 have been charged.

During the new year celebrations Brussels was placed on lockdown amid fears a terror attacks by Islamic extremists in the city was imminent.