Lawyer: Frenchman's Brother Knew Nothing of Plot - ABC News

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A lawyer says a Frenchman suspected of helping his brother plot attacks against Jewish schoolchildren and paratroopers knew nothing about what was going on.

A French judge filed preliminary murder and terrorism charges Sunday against brother Abdelkader Merah on Sunday, whose younger brother Mohamed claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Abdelkader is in custody and has not spoken publicly. His lawyer Anne-Sophie Laguens said Sunday that "no one was aware of anything."

Laguens denied reports that Abdelkader was proud of his brother's actions.

Investigators looking into France's worst terror attacks in years believe Abdelkader helped prepare the killings and are investigating whether they were linked to an international network or worked on their own.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

PARIS (AP) — A French judge filed preliminary murder and terrorism charges Sunday against the brother of a gunman who killed Jewish schoolchildren and paratroopers in attacks that stunned the country.

Investigators looking into France's worst terror attacks in years believe Mohamed Merah's brother helped prepare the killings and are trying to find out how deeply he was involved. They are also investigating whether they were linked to an international network or worked on their own.

An unidentified man with his head covered, believed to be Abdelkader Merah or his companion, sits between masked police officers as they head to the French police's anti-terrorist headquarters in Levallois-Perret, outside Paris, Saturday, March 24, 2012. Merah's brother, Mohamed Merah is blamed for a series of deadly shootings which have shocked France and upended the country's presidential race. Merah, who claimed allegiance to al-Qaida, died in a hail of gunfire Thursday after a dramatic 32-hour-long standoff with law enforcement. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) Close

Mohamed Merah, 23, claimed responsibility for killing three Jewish schoolchildren, a rabbi and three paratroopers earlier this month. After a 32-hour standoff with police, he died Thursday in a hail of gunfire as he jumped out a window of his apartment in the southern city of Toulouse.

Since then, attention has focused on his older brother Abdelkader Merah, who was handed preliminary charges on Sunday of complicity to murder and theft, and involvement in a terrorist enterprise, prosecutors said. Detained last week, he will remain in custody pending further investigation.

Preliminary charges under French law mean there is strong reason to believe a crime was committed, but allow magistrates more time to investigate.

Authorities suspect Abdelkader had a role in acquiring his younger brother's arsenal and financing his trips to Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Middle East. Mohamed Merah claimed allegiance to al-Qaida and told police he traveled to Afghanistan and Pakistan for training.

Abdelkader was questioned several years ago about alleged links to a network sending Toulouse-area youths to Iraq, but no action was brought against him at the time.

Prosecutor Francois Molins said the inquiry is also looking at anyone else who could have been involved in planning the attacks.

The brother's girlfriend, Yamina Mesbah, was held, then released early Sunday without being charged. The Merah brothers' mother was released Friday night.

The girlfriend denied any involvement in what happened and said she was shocked by the killings, her lawyer Guy Debuisson said, adding that Abdelkader Merah appeared to have led a double life.

"This woman was unaware of anything about her husband's accessory, complementary or secret life," the lawyer said. The couple married according to Muslim custom in 2006, but did not undergo the civil ceremony required in France for a marriage to be recognized.

Abdelkader Merah took five or six long trips to Egypt, ostensibly to study Arabic literature, and his girlfriend joined him on two or three, the lawyer said.

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By: A n brother knew nothing of the plot

PARIS (AP) — a lawyer says suspected of helping his brother against the Jewish students in the plot to attack the French and pudotuksiin knew nothing of what is currently in progress.

The French judge of preliminary murder and terrorism charges Sunday of his brother, a younger brother of Abdelkader Merah on Sunday, claimed responsibility for the terrorist attacks Mohamed.

Abdelkader is in custody and has not spoken in public. His lawyer Anne-Sophie Laguens said on Sunday that "no one knew anything."

Was proud of his brother Abdelkader Laguens denied reports in the operations.

In search of the worst terrorist attacks in the French part of the years of killing Abdelkader scientists believe, to prepare and examine whether or not they are related to the international network, or, in fact, worked.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Please check Back soon for more information. AP: in earlier versions of the story are shown below.

PARIS (AP) — the French judge of preliminary murder and terrorism charges Sunday in Gunma, who killed the Jewish school and the attacks that stunned the country pudotuksiin brother.

In search of the worst terrorist attacks in the years into French scientists believe, Mohamed Merah brother find out how to prepare for the killings and are trying to seriously, he was involved in. They also will examine whether they are related to the international network, or, in fact, worked.

Mohamed, claimed responsibility for the killing in Merah, 23, of three Jewish students, rabbi and three pudotuksiin earlier this month. After 32 hours of the draw with the police, he died in a hail of gunfire as he jumped off Thursday in his home in the southern city of Toulouse.

After this, attention is focused on the older brother Abdelkader Merah, which was handed to the preliminary expenses of the inclusion of the murder and theft and terrorism, on the company's participation in the prosecutors said. Arrested in the past week, he will remain in custody pending further investigations.

Preliminary expenses of the French law, is a strong reason to believe that the offence has been committed, but to allow more time to examine the judges.

Authorities suspect, Abdelkader was his younger brother and his arsenal, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Middle East. Mohamed Merah claimed al-Qaida allegiance and told police, he traveled to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Abdelkader was questioned several years ago about the alleged links to a Toulouse area, to reduce Iraq's network, but not at the time of bringing an action against him.

Prosecutor Francois Molins said, also by all who have been involved in planning terrorist attacks.

The brother of a girl friend, Yamina Mesbah, then at the beginning of Sunday was released without any basis. The brothers have been published in the mother of Merah on Friday evening.

The girl friend denied involvement in what happened and said he was shocked, his lawyer Guy Debuisson said the killings, by Abdelkader Merah was led a double life.

"This woman did not know any of his men, complementary or accessory to the secret of life," the lawyer said. The couple married according to Muslim custom, 2006 have not been carried out in France, but may be subject to a civil marriage ceremony.

It took five or six Abdelkader Merah over long distances to Egypt to study Arabic literature and seemingly his girlfriend joined him two or three, the lawyer said.

During questioning by the police, the lawyer said, had been the Merah Mesbah learned other motivaatioita his trip to Egypt and the "life, which led him towards a very intense ... fundamentalism."

"The question that will be asked today is, if Mohamed was the only one who was indoctrinated. Was just him or coordination body? " DEBUISSON asked.

Imad Ibn Ziaten, killed, the first paratrooper was buried Sunday in his home town on the Mediterranean coast of Morocco. Townspeople are considered to be French and Moroccan flags as soldiers in the tomb of the last.

"It is incomprehensible, unimaginable at the time. Terrorism does not understand this. And we all do not confuse Islam and fanaticism. They do not have anything to do with each other, "his brother Hatim Ibn Ziaten said.

The French Secretary of State for Defense Marc Laffineur, lawyer of the family with Moroccan, saying, he wanted to get that "France is in mourning." Other pudotuksiin were buried in France last week and was buried in Israel for Jewish children and rabbi.

Killings is to influence the French presidential election race in April and may and concerns about the care of the French to the Muslim and Jewish communities.

Thousands of people in Paris and Toulouse marched silently to progress unity and tolerance of different faiths and cultures after the killings on Sunday. A huge range of the French tricolor flag, dozens of marchers waved the, such as resulting from Paris in March from the Place de la Bastille, birthplace of the French Revolution snaked.

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Angela Charlton in Paris, Masha Macpherson and Johanna Decorse in Toulouse and Andy Drake Rabat, Morocco contributed to this report.

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Lawyer: Cuban agent happy can visit brother

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HAVANA (AP) — A lawyer for a Cuban agent serving probation after a long jail term in the United States said Tuesday that his client is elated with a Miami judge's decision to let him visit his ailing brother on the island, and says the man will keep his word and return to serve out the remainder of the punishment.

The ruling in the case of Rene Gonzalez offered a rare moment of relaxation in tension between the two countries. It also raised hopes Cuba might reciprocate with a humanitarian gesture for jailed U.S. contractor Alan Gross, whose imprisonment has torpedoed any hope of rapprochement between the Cold War enemies.

Gross has asked authorities to be allowed to return to the United States to visit his mother and adult daughter, who are both battling cancer, and his supporters are looking to next week's visit to Cuba by Pope Benedict XVI as a chance for a goodwill gesture.

Gonzalez is one of the so-called Cuban Five, agents who were convicted of spying on Cuban exiles in South Florida and trying to infiltrate military installations and political campaigns. He was freed last year after serving most of a 15-year sentence, but was ordered to remain in the U.S. for three years on supervised release.

Phil Horowitz, a Miami-based criminal defense attorney who has represented Gonzalez since 1998, said Gonzalez would file all the paperwork to comply with the judge's order, including an itinerary with addresses and the names of people he plans to see, and intends to make the trip as soon as possible.

"He's happy he's going to be able to see his brother while he's in his time of need," Horowitz said. "Like I've always said in my motions, this is not a political request, this is a pure humanitarian request."

Gonzalez, a dual Cuban-American citizen whose brother has lung cancer, promises to return within the two-week limit established in the ruling.

"If he doesn't, he's going to be an international pariah," the lawyer said. "No. 2, there's still four more of his fellow countrymen in the United States prison system that are eventually going to get released. If he doesn't comply with the court order it may reflect badly on them, and he has absolutely no desire to do that."

As Cuban and U.S. officials have done in the past, Horowitz insisted that Gonzalez's and Gross' cases are separate.

However Philip Peters, a longtime Cuba analyst at the Virginia-based Lexington Institute Lexington Institute, noted similarities between Gonzalez and Gross, a 62-year-old from Maryland who was arrested in December 2009 while working with Cuban Jewish communities to improve their Internet access. Gross was convicted last year of crimes against the state and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

"There's this parallel situation where both Gonzalez and Gross have relatives that are (suffering from) cancer," Peters said. "Both have asked for a brief visit, and they've both promised that they would return to serve their sentence."

"One has been granted, and the other is pending."

But since permission came from the judicial branch rather than the executive, it's tough to interpret this as a clear beginning of a broader humanitarian agreement between Washington and Havana.

"It's definitely an interesting twist when you consider that Cuba has said that they're interested in reciprocal humanitarian steps," Peters said. "But the United States did not present this as a positive gesture, and in fact the (Obama) administration opposed it. ... It would be a little tricky for U.S. diplomats to turn around and try to get something out of this."

In court filings last week, the Justice Department argued against letting Gonzalez return to the island on the grounds that he could receive new spying instructions from Cuban intelligence officials.

In Washington on Tuesday, Department spokesman Dean Boyd declined to comment on whether an appeal was in the works.

Gonzalez's lawyer has said the dual Cuban-American citizen is working as a caretaker at a private home, but did not reveal the location out of concern for his client's safety.

Cuban authorities were initially quiet about the ruling except for a short, matter-of-fact article in state media, where the Cuban Five are a constant fixture and cause celebre.

Requests for government comment and permission to interview Gonzalez's wife, Olga Salanueva, were not immediately granted.

"Imagine the happiness a Cuban feels (upon learning) that Rene has been given a humanitarian visa to visit his brother," Antonio Castro, a son of former President Fidel Castro, told The Associated Press at an unrelated event.

"This is a very long struggle. It has been going on for years and we have to keep moving forward," Castro said. "But of course it's a cause for personal satisfaction."

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Associated Press writers Andrea Rodriguez and Anne-Marie Garcia in Havana, and Gisela Salomon in Miami, contributed to this report.

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Follow Peter Orsi on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Peter(underscore)Orsi.

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By: happy Cuban agent to visit the brother

HAVANA (AP) — a lawyer in Cuba, the agent serving probation, when a long jail term in the United States, said on Tuesday that his client was elated Miami judge decision, he is the brother of the man on the island, and says the tax breaks to keep his word, and returns to the rest of the punishment.

Rene Gonzalez 5 offered a rare moment of relaxation between the two countries. It is also hoped Cuban may respond with the humanitarian branch of the jailed Us contractor Alan Gross, whose imprisonment has torpedoed the cold war, the enemies of the convergence of hope.

Gross has asked to be allowed to return to visit his mother and adult daughter of the United States authorities, both of which are cancer and his supporters are looking for Christopher Pope Benedict XVI to the goodwill of the business, and the possibility of the visit to Cuba next week.

Gonzalez is one of the so-called Cuban five, who had been convicted of espionage in Cuba, human rights organisations and to try to infiltrate into South Florida at military installations and impurities in political campaigns. He was released last year after serving 15 years of a sentence was to remain in the United States, but most of the supervised release for three years.

Phil Horowitz, Miami criminal defense attorney is based on, which is represented in the Gonzalez since 1998 to comply with the order of the judge, said Gonzalez file, including travel plans he intends to review, with the names and addresses of the persons to the paper work and intends to make the trip as soon as possible.

"He is happy, he will be able to see his brother, he is in need of his time," Horowitz said. "As you have always said my motions, this is not a political request, this is a pure humanitarian request."

Gonzalez, two Cuban-American citizen, whose brother is the authorisation laid down by the judgment of the lung cancer to return within two weeks.

"If he does not, he is going to have an international pariah," the lawyer said. "No. 2, the four companies of his countrymen in the United States prison system interaction, which in the end is going to be to get released. If he does not follow the case law of the Court of Justice may also affect badly to them, and he is just not wish to do so. "

Cuban and US officials have been in the past, Horowitz claimed that Gonzalez and the cases are separate.

Philip Peters, for a long period of Cuba-analyst Virginia-based Lexington Institute, Lexington Institute, said, however, the similarities of the gross, 62-year-old Gonzalez and Maryland, who was arrested in December 2009, while working with the Cuban Jewish communities to improve their Internet connection. Gross was convicted last year of crimes against the State and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

"Is parallel to the situation, where Gonzalez and Gross family, (a) cancer," Peters said. "Both are asked for a brief visit, and you both were promised that they will be returned to contribute."

"One of the was granted, and the other is pending."

But since the rights involved in the judicial branch, rather than the Executive, it is hard to interpret this in the wider context of the humanitarian agreement, Washington and Havana to the beginning of it.

"It is certainly an interesting twist when Cuba has said that they are interested in, in the form of humanitarian operations," Peters said. "But the United States has made a positive gesture, and in fact, (Obama) Administration was opposed to it. ... It should be a little bit difficult to diplomats from the United States, and try to get something out of this amount, around the clock. "

Court filings last week, Justice Department argued against a return to the island, on the grounds that he could get the new spyware help Cuban intelligence officials of Gonzalez.

Department spokesman Dean Boyd declined to comment on whether there was a change in the works in Washington on Tuesday.

Gonzalez's lawyer has said the Cuban-American dual national is as for the election of the Board of a private home, but did not reveal any of his concerns about the location of the customer's safety.

The Cuban authorities had initially a quiet information, with the exception of the short, matter-of-fact article on the State of the Media, the Court, if the Cuban five are constantly test the device and cause celebre.

The Government's comment, and the right to consult the Gonzalez's wife, Olga Salanueva was granted immediately.

Antonio Castro, son of former President Fidel Castro, said, "imagine the happiness of Cuba is of the opinion that (after) Rene of humanitarian visas to visit his brother," the Associated Press to unrelated parties in the Conference.

"This is a very long fight. It has and we have to keep moving forward, "Castro said. "But, of course, it is the personal satisfaction."

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Press writers Anne-Marie Garcia in Havana and Andrea Rodriguez and Gisela Salomon Miami, contributed to this report.

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Follow Peter on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Peter (underscore) Perch Perches.

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