Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam refuses to be probed by anti-terror judge for 3rd time

Salah Abdeslam, who is believed to be the only surviving jihadists from the group that attacked Paris in November 2015 has declined to answer questions from an anti-terror judge for a third time on Thursday (8 September).

His lawyer Frank Berton told reporters, "He [Abdeslam ] exercised his right to silence," after the 26-year-old appeared at the city's main courthouse. Berton added that this time he was positive Abdeslam would co-operate with investigators.

Abdeslam was transferred from Belgium to Paris in Apriland has since refused to answer questions from an anti-terror judge on two occasions. He is believed to angry and frustrated at the 24-hour surveillance he is under at prison.

On 7 July, the lawyer of the accused requested officials to stop the round-the-clock surveillance, but his plea was rejected, AFP quoted a source as saying. The lawyer argued that two live video cameras in his cell in Fleury-Merogis prison could cause psychological damage.

Abdeslam had on 20 May declined to be quizzed by a judge and later in July he did not agree to attend another hearing.

He was arrested on 18 March in Molenbeek, Brussels which is believed to be a hotbed for Islamic extremism. Soon after the Paris attacks, Abdeslam was on the run for four months, but was eventually arrested and brought to France under tight security on 27 April to face terror charges.

At least 130 people were killed in the Paris attacks on 13 November and investigators are unclear as to what role did the 26-year-old play in the attacks. They also hope that Abdeslam would provide them with the modus operandi of the jihadists and give clues of the number of people involved in the attacks.