Syrian suspect in Paris attacks traveled through Latin America on false passport before flying to France

BOGOTA, November 20th, 2015 (EFE) One of the people being investigated for having participated in last week’s terrorist attacks in Paris left Bogota in July and traveled to the French capital after bribing officials to let him leave the country, a source in the immigration agency told EFE.

The suspect, identified as Syrian national Al Sakhadi Seham, made a stop in Bogota, where he arrived from Ecuador, the country where he had stayed for six months after a long journey from Syria, the official added.

Colombian authorities are working with the French government to determine the possible participation of Al Sakhadi in the series of attacks carried out on November 13, according to what officials with the Attorney General’s Office told EFE.

The Syrian citizen arrived in Bogota after leaving his homeland and traveling to Tripoli, Lebanon. Later, he passed through Turkey and Ecuador before arriving in Bogota.

In the Colombian capital, he presented a stolen Israeli passport in the name of Ashira Kreinger and bribed several officials to allow him to leave the country.

In August, a group within the Colombian Immigration Agency suspected of facilitating the departure – without following the proper procedures – of travelers passing through Bogota was broken up and six officials were arrested.

To date, the six people had been held under house arrest, a measure that has now been revoked, the immigration sources told EFE.

On Nov. 13, 129 people were killed and more than 300 were wounded in Paris in the series of suicide-bomb and firearm attacks.

Since then, a number of suspects have been arrested and others have been killed in several police operations mounted to capture the terrorists responsible for the attacks.