Paris attack suspect Abdeslam charged with 'terrorist murder'

A suspected Islamic State militant was formally charged on Saturday with "terrorist murder" and involvement in last year's Paris attacks, Belgian prosecutors said. 

Salah Abdeslam, who was shot in the leg during his arrest on Friday in the Belgian capital, appeared before magistrates on Saturday in connection with his role in the IS-claimed attacks on 13 November in Paris, which left 130 dead.

"Salah Abdeslam [has] been charged by the investigating judge with participation in terrorist murder and participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation," a prosecution statement said.

His lawyers said they would oppose their client's extradition to France.

"In an hour, we will be back [before the judge] on the European Arrest Warrant under which France is seeking his extradition, and I can already tell you that we will oppose his extradition," Sven Mary said at federal police headquarters in Brussels.

The 26-year-old is suspected of playing a key role in the Paris attacks and had been on the run since being identified shortly afterwards.

France's interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, said on Saturday that Abdeslam's capture was a "major blow' to IS operations in Europe.

"The operations of the past week have enabled us to incapacitate several individuals who are clearly extremely dangerous and totally determined," Cazeneuve said.

"We will win the war against terrorism by acting without truce or let-up." 

Abdeslam's family expressed relief that he was safe, according to a statement from his brother.

Nathalie Gallant, representing the family, told RTBF television: "Firstly, because Salah was taken alive - the family had hoped for that. Relief too that finally the manhunt is over because you must understand the family has been under constant pressure for the past four months."

Interpol warned that "extra vigilance" would be needed at country borders in order to prevent terror suspects fleeing in future.

"The capture of the 26-year-old Belgian-born French national ... may encourage any accomplices to attempt to flee Europe or elsewhere," the world police body warned its 190 member countries.

"An advisory sent to all member countries ... recommends enhanced checks at control points, particularly against Interpol’s Stolen and Lost Travel Documents (SLTD) database," the body based in Lyon, France, said in a statement.

Interpol secretary general Juergen Stock said: “While it is too soon to speculate in which direction the investigation will proceed, anyone linked to Abdeslam will be concerned that their location could be revealed and attempt to run to try and avoid detection." 

Abdeslam was arrested Friday in the Brussels area of Molenbeek, home to a large, mostly North African community and where the family has lived for many years.

One of his brothers, Brahim, blew himself up in the Paris attacks and was buried Thursday in a Brussels cemetery where another brother, Mohamed, led the funeral cortege.

Gallant also acts for Abid Aberkan, who was arrested on Friday for sheltering Abdeslam in Molenbeek and charged with "participating in a terrorist group" and hiding a fugitive.