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Omar Ismail Mostefai identified as assailant in Paris attack
Source : BBC
One of the attackers who killed 129 people in Paris has been identified by French investigators.
French citizen Omar Ismail Mostefai was named by local media and a French parliamentarian.
The 29-year-old had a criminal record and was known to have been radicalised.
Investigators identified him after his severed fingertip was found at the Bataclan concert hall, where three attackers blew themselves up, AFP news agency reports.
Friday’s attacks, claimed by Islamic State (IS) militants, hit a concert hall, a major stadium, restaurants and bars in the French capital.
Prosecutors say seven assailants – armed with Kalashnikovs and suicide belts – were organised into three teams, and there are fears that some may have fled the scene.
Prime Minister Manuel Valls has said France will continue with air strikes against IS in Syria, and described the group as a very well-organized enemy.
History of petty crime
Police are trying to find out whether Mostefai travelled to Syria in 2014, judicial sources told AFP.
His father and brother have been taken into police custody.
“It’s crazy, insane. I was in Paris myself last night, I saw what a mess it was,” Mostefai’s older brother told AFP before being detained after voluntarily attending a police station on Saturday.
Mostefai came from the town of Courcouronnes, 25km (15 miles) south of Paris. He lived in the nearby town of Chartres until 2012, according to the local MP and deputy mayor Jean-Pierre Gorges.
He had a history of petty crime but was never jailed. The security services deemed him to have been radicalised in 2010 but he was never implicated in a counter-terrorism investigation.
Mostefai’s brother said he had not had contact with him for several years following family disputes, but said he was surprised to hear he had been radicalised.
He was one of six children in the family and had travelled to Algeria with his family and young daughter, the brother said.
Belgian link?
The investigation is also focusing on a possible link to Belgium after police there arrested three men near the French border.
A black Volkswagen Polo with Belgian registration found at the Bataclan had been rented by a Frenchman living in Belgium, the Paris chief prosecutor said.
The French national was identified while driving another vehicle in a spot check by police on Saturday morning as he crossed into Belgium with two passengers.
The BBC’s Hugh Schofield in Paris says investigators are working on the theory that these three may be another team of attackers who managed to flee the scene.
Speaking in Paris, chief prosecutor Francois Molins told reporters: “We can say at this stage of the investigation there were probably three co-ordinated teams of terrorists behind this barbaric act.
“We have to find out where they came from… and how they were financed.”
Mr Molins said the police were also investigating a black Seat used by gunmen at two of the attacks, which remains untraced.
The Greek authorities say two people under investigation by the French police had registered in Greece as Syrian refugees. A Syrian passport was found near the body of one the attackers at the Stade de France.
An Egyptian passport has also been linked to the attacks.
French President Francois Hollande has imposed a state of emergency after the worst peacetime attack in France since World War Two. It is also the deadliest in Europe since the 2004 Madrid bombings.
Islamic State released a statement on Saturday saying “eight brothers wearing explosive belts and carrying assault rifles” had carried out the attacks on “carefully chosen” targets, and were a response to France’s involvement in the air strikes on IS militants in Syria and Iraq.
Shortly before, President Hollande said France had been “attacked in a cowardly shameful and violent way”.
“So France will be merciless in its response to the Daesh [Islamic State] militants,” he said, vowing to “use all means within the law… on every battleground here and abroad together with our allies”.
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Flash floods and natural disasters leave dozens dead, thousands affected across Afghanistan
The warning comes as Afghan authorities report significant losses caused by recent heavy rainfall and natural disasters across the country.
More than 31,000 people were affected by flash floods in Afghanistan in 2025, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme said on Sunday, warning that the country is increasingly vulnerable to climate-related disasters.
In a statement, the agency highlighted Afghanistan’s growing exposure to extreme weather events and stressed the urgent need for disaster-resilient infrastructure. The organization also noted that it is working with the Special Trust Fund for Afghanistan to help communities strengthen their ability to withstand future environmental shocks.
The warning comes as Afghan authorities report significant losses caused by recent heavy rainfall and natural disasters across the country.
According to Zabihullah Mujahid, at least 61 people have died and 116 others have been injured following severe weather and flooding in several provinces. Authorities say four people remain missing as search and rescue efforts continue.
The disasters have also caused widespread destruction to homes, farmland, and livestock. Mujahid said 2,448 houses were destroyed either completely or partially, leaving thousands of families displaced.
In addition, 26,841 acres of agricultural land were severely damaged, dealing a major blow to rural communities that depend heavily on farming and livestock for their livelihoods. Officials also confirmed that 1,045 livestock animals were killed during the storms.
Mujahid said the Islamic Emirate has mobilized available resources to support affected communities, emphasizing that relief efforts are underway to deliver emergency assistance such as shelter, medical supplies, and food to those impacted.
He added that alongside immediate humanitarian aid, authorities are also focusing on long-term reconstruction and recovery efforts to rebuild damaged infrastructure and restore livelihoods.
The United Nations has repeatedly warned that Afghanistan remains highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters, including floods, droughts, and landslides, which continue to threaten millions of people across the country.
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IEA accuses Pakistan of war crimes amid heavy civilian losses
The attacks also left a trail of widespread destruction. Over 1,100 homes were completely destroyed.
In a grave accusation, the deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Hamdullah Fitrat, has condemned Pakistan’s military actions, accusing it of carrying out attacks that led to significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction across several Afghan provinces. The allegations focus on a period between February 22 and April 4, 2026, during which Pakistani military strikes are said to have targeted various regions of Afghanistan.
According to Fitrat, the attacks primarily impacted the provinces of Paktika, Paktia, Kandahar, Nangarhar, Kunar, Kabul, Khost, Nuristan, and Laghman. The toll on civilians has been devastating: 761 people were killed, 626 others injured, and 27,407 families displaced from their homes.
The attacks also left a trail of widespread destruction. Over 1,100 homes were completely destroyed, along with 256 shops, while 34 mosques, 13 schools, 13 Madrasas, 3 health facilities, and 42 vehicles were all reduced to rubble. The destruction has had a severe economic impact, with 661 livestock animals reported as killed.
The scale of the strikes has been particularly alarming. A total of 14,973 missiles, mortars, and artillery shells were fired during the period in question, inflicting immense physical and psychological damage on civilian populations.
Fitrat has called these actions “war crimes” against Afghan civilians, highlighting not only the tragic loss of life but also the deep humanitarian crisis that has resulted from the attacks. The international community is now being urged to take action to address the devastating impact of the bombardments on Afghanistan’s civilian infrastructure and economy.
Pakistan has not yet publicly responded to the accusations. However, these developments are likely to escalate tensions between the two neighboring countries as both sides continue to grapple with a volatile and complex geopolitical situation.
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The meeting will be chaired by Amir Khan Muttaqi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and attended by senior representatives from Afghanistan and Central Asian countries.
The discussions will cover political, economic, and security issues, as well as the development of regional cooperation, trade, and transit.
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