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Paris attacks: German arms dealer who 'may have sold Isis extremists guns' found as sixth suspect charged

Authorities in Belgium have charged a sixth suspect with terror offences in relation to the 13 November attacks

Friday 27 November 2015 18:15 GMT

Raids have been carried out across Europe as fugitive Salah Abdeslam continues to evade police (Getty)

Police in Germany believe they may have caught the man who sold Isis extremists the Kalashnikovs used to kill 130 people in Paris.

The investigation was continuing as authorities in neighbouring Belgium charged a sixth suspect in relation to the atrocity a fortnight ago.

The unidentified man stands accused of committing “terrorist attacks and taking part in the activities of a terrorist group”, the country’s federal prosecutor said today.

Video: Terror alert in Brussels lifted

He had been arrested in the Belgian capital on Thursday. Two other men, believed to be his father and brother, were detained in connected raids in the town of Verviers but have since been released.

Meanwhile, German police are investigating whether an arrested arms dealer may have sold four of the assault rifles used in the Paris attacks.

A statement from the Stuttgart public prosecutor said the unnamed 24-year-old man was a German national from Magstadt, in south-western Germany.

A spokesperson said the originally unrelated investigation started when the man was found to be converting legal starter pistols into live firearms and selling them on the internet.

“A search of his home on 23 November uncovered more firearms,” he added.

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

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The world mourns Paris attacks

Members of the public gather to lay flowers and light candles at La Belle Equipe restaraunt on Rue de Charonne in Paris

Getty

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

People lay a memorial to honour victims of the Paris terror attacks at Federation Square in Melbourne, Australia

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

Soccer fans display the colors of the French flag in response to the deadly terrorist attack in Paris, France before the soccer match between the New York Cosmos' and the Ottawa Fury for the North American Soccer League championship at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, USA

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

Pakistani Civil society activists shout slogans during a protest against Isis militants near the French consulate for the victims of the 13 November Paris attacks in Karachi, Pakistan

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

People gather and view messages written on the ground at Place de la Republique in Paris

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

French flags and a note reading "We will not let you spoil our children's lives" at the site of the attack at the Cafe Belle Equipe on rue de Charonne in the 11th district, in Paris

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

A rose is placed beside a bullet hole at La Belle Equipe restaraunt on Rue de Charonne following the terrorist attack in Paris. As France observes three days of national mourning members of the public continue to pay tribute to the victims of deadly attacks

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

Bono and band members of U2 pay their respects and place flowers on the pavement near the scene of yesterday's Bataclan Theatre terrorist attack in Paris

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

A man kneels as he pays tribute to victims at Place de la Republique near the deadly attack sites in Paris

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

Tributes to the victims at the Place de la Republique square in Paris

AFP

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

An electronic billboard on a canal show solidarity with Paris in Milan

EPA

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

People lay down flowers and light candles to tribute victims of Friday's attacks in Paris as the Brandenburg gate is illuminated in blue, white and red in the colors of the French flag, in Berlin

Reuters

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

A man leaves flowers as a tribute following the deadly attacks in Paris, outside the French consulate in Istanbul

Reuters

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

People take pictures of flowers placed in bullet holes in the window of a Japanese restaurant next to the cafe 'La Belle Equipe'

AFP

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

People gather at a makeshift memorial next to the Bataclan theatre in Paris on November 14, 2015,

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

A woman carrying flowers cries in front of the Carillon cafe and the Petit Cambodge restaurant in Paris

AP

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

People gather in front of flowers that were laid outside the French embassy in Rome

AP

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

People react near the cafe 'La Belle Equipe' at the Rue de Charonne

AFP

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

A young girl places a candle in front of the Carillon cafe in Paris

AP

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

Flowers placed outside the cafe 'La Belle Equipe' at the Rue de Charonne in Paris, the scene for one of the attacks

AFP

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

A woman is comforted by others outside the Carillon cafe and the Petit Cambodge restaurant in Paris

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

The Brandenbourg Gate featuring French national colors is pictured in Berlin, on November 14, 2015 a day after deadly attacks in Paris

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

Flowers are laid in front of the French embassy in Rome

EPA

The world mourns Paris attacks - in pictures

The world mourns Paris attacks

A candle is lit next to flowers outside the French Embassy in Berlin

AFP

“Continuing investigations indicate there is evidence that the accused may have sold four assault rifles to a buyer in Paris in November 2015.

“Possible links to the attacks in Paris are being investigated.”

It came as a Belgian court ordered the continued detention Ali Oulkadi, 31, who admits driving Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam through Brussels after he fled France the morning after the attacks.

His lawyer, Olivier Martins, said his client did not know who he was going to pick up when another friend called in the favour and had no knowledge or involvement in the Isis plot.

Lawyer Olivier Martins talks to the press, during the appearance of suspect Ali O. at the council chamber of the courthouse in Brussels, on November 27, 2015. (AFP/Getty Images)

“You're not going to tell me that if you drive Salah Abdeslam a few kilometres through Brussels that you're part of a terrorist group,” he added.

Oulkadi and another man arrested on Monday will be held in custody for up to a month as investigations continue.

Abdeslam, the brother of suicide bomber Brahim Abdeslam, is still at large despite a series of police raids across Europe.

Belgian authorities have charged the two men who drove from Brussels to Paris to pick him up in the early hours of 14 November, as well as Abraimi Lazez, 39, who was detained after police found two handguns and traces of blood in his car.

Additional reporting by PA