Leader of an Islamic Group Suspected of several murders in Belgium

The leader of an Islamic group which was dismantled in the beginning of the week in Morocco is suspected of having carried out several assassinations and hold-ups in Belgium, announced the Moroccon Minister of interior affairs Chakib Benmoussa.

"Abdelkader Belliraj, aka "Ilyass" and "Abdelkrim", who was born in 1957 in the Nador Region (Morocco), and who is a dual Moroccon and Belgian citizen has committed 6 crimes between 1986 and 1989", said Chakib Benmoussa at a press conference.

Belgium had never identified the suspect until this day. Now that we know who he is we will re-open the case and inform the Interpol, he said.

According to the Minister, the murders were committed by Belliraj "before he founded the terrorist organisation in question in 1992" he added.

Between 1992 and 2001, the members of the group had organised a series of hold-ups and attempted hold-ups, continued M. Benmoussa, as well as in 1996, the group attempted to assassinate a Jewish Moroccon citizen and that he had also planned the other assassinations in 1992, 1996, 2002, 2004 and 2005.

Source: Le Vif - 21/02/2008