Arms for Paris attacks 'bought from Germany': Report

November 28, 2015 | 11:03

(0) user say

Four assault rifles used in the deadly Paris attacks were allegedly purchased from a trafficker in Germany, according to a German newspaper report.

French national flags hang from resident's balconies during a national tribute to the 130 people killed in the November 13 Paris attacks. (Photo:AFP/Nicolas Tucat)

BERLIN: Four assault rifles used in the deadly Paris attacks were allegedly purchased from a trafficker in Germany, newspaper Bild reported Friday, as prosecutors said they were still probing a possible link.

Quoting documents from the Stuttgart prosecutor's office, the newspaper said two AK47s and two Zastava M70s were sold on November 7 by the arms dealer to a customer in Paris.

"French investigators believe that the weapons were allegedly used in the attacks in Paris," said Bild.

A spokesman for the Stuttgart prosecutor's office confirmed the arrest of an arms dealer but told AFP he could not confirm or deny a connection with the Paris attacks.

"We are still investigating," he said.

According to Bild, German police on Monday arrested a 34-year-old man named Sascha W. from the southern city of Magstadt on suspicion of the illegal weapons trade.

The suspect is accused of having hawked the weapons on the Darknet -- a hidden network used for both legal and illicit ends -- using the name "DW Guns".

Four emails on his smartphone show that he sold "four Kalashnikovs assault rifles to an Arab in Paris", added the newspaper.

During a raid at the suspect's house, police also found 16 other firearms, Bild said.

The prosecutor's office said the man was aged 24 and arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of converting starter guns into deadly weapons and selling them on the Darknet.

"He is believed to have built the parts for this himself," the spokesman said, adding that only pistols had been found.

AFP

What the stars mean:

★ Poor ★ ★ Promising ★★★ Good ★★★★ Very good ★★★★★ Exceptional