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The Latest: Abdeslam, accomplice guilty of attempted murder

BRUSSELS (AP) - The Latest on the trial of Salah Abdeslam and a suspected accomplice in Brussels (all times local):

10:50 a.m.

A Brussels court has found Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam and an accomplice guilty of attempted murder over shots fired at police officers as they sought to flee arrest in March 2016, and sentenced them to 20 years in prison.

The court said the "terror character" of the shooting was clearly established in the incident when Abdeslam and Sofiane Ayari sought to escape after they were found in a hideout in a Brussels suburb.

The incident occurred four months after the Paris attacks that killed 130. The two were captured three days later.

Each was also fined 12,000 euros.

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10:35 a.m.

A Brussels court says the sole surviving suspect in the 2015 Paris attacks and an accomplice were clearly implicated in shooting at police officers as they sought to flee arrest in Belgium in March 2016, but has not said whether they are guilty yet.

The court, reading its verdict in the men's attempted murder case, added that the danger emanating from Salah Abdeslam "remains intact," It said that in the case it is considering, the "terror character of their action was established."

Abedeslam and Sofiane Ayari each faces up to 20 years in prison for the shooting incident. It came four months after the Paris attacks that killed 130.

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8:45 a.m.

The sole surviving suspect in the 2015 Paris extremist attacks, who was once Europe's most wanted fugitive, will hear his judgment in an attempted murder case on Monday.

Salah Abdeslam is being tried in Belgium for his alleged involvement in a March 15, 2016, police shootout, four months after the Paris attacks that killed 130.

Abdeslam was close to being arrested in a hideout when he and an accomplice fled while another man sprayed gunfire toward police and was killed.

Three days later, Abdeslam and the accomplice were caught in Brussels.

Federal prosecutors are seeking 20-year prison sentences for both men, citing a terrorist link in the shootout.

 

 

 

Police patrol outside the Brussels justice palace during the trial of Saleh Abdeslam and Soufiane Ayari in Brussels, Monday, April 23, 2018. The sole surviving suspect in the 2015 Paris extremist attacks who was once Europe's most wanted fugitive will hear his judgment in an attempted murder case on Monday. Salah Abdeslam's verdict will be heard for his involvement in a March 15, 2016, police shootout, four months after the Paris attacks that killed 130. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) The Associated Press
Lawyers for the accused, from left, Isa Gultaslar, Laura Severin, Romain Delcoigne and Sven Mary attend the trial of Salah Abdeslam and Sofiane Ayari, at the Brussels justice palace in Brussels on Monday, April 23, 2018. The sole surviving suspect in the 2015 Paris extremist attacks who was once Europe's most wanted fugitive will hear his judgment in an attempted murder case on Monday. The verdict will be heard for his involvement in a March 15, 2016, police shootout, four months after the Paris attacks that killed 130. (Stephanie Lecocq, Pool Photo via AP) The Associated Press
The empty bench of the accused, Salah Abdeslam and Sofiane Ayari, at the Brussels justice palace in Brussels on Monday, April 23, 2018. The sole surviving suspect in the 2015 Paris extremist attacks who was once Europe's most wanted fugitive will hear his judgment in an attempted murder case on Monday. The verdict will be heard for his involvement in a March 15, 2016, police shootout, four months after the Paris attacks that killed 130. (Stephanie Lecocq, Pool Photo via AP) The Associated Press
Belgian judge Marie-France Keutgen speaks during the trial of Salah Abdeslam and Sofiane Ayari at the Brussels justice palace in Brussels on Monday, April 23, 2018. The sole surviving suspect in the 2015 Paris extremist attacks who was once Europe's most wanted fugitive will hear his judgment in an attempted murder case on Monday. The verdict will be heard for his involvement in a March 15, 2016, police shootout, four months after the Paris attacks that killed 130. (Fred Sierakowski, Pool Photo via AP) The Associated Press
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