French lawyer: Paris attacks suspect ‘ready to collaborate’

AP FILE PHOTO

PARIS — A French lawyer says he will defend key Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam once he’s transferred from Belgium to France, and described him as a young man “falling apart” and ready to cooperate.

Frank Berton told the iTele TV channel on Wednesday that Abdeslam — the only survivor in the Nov. 13 Paris bloodbath that killed 130 people — won’t be transferred to France before mid-May.

READ: Paris attacks fugitive Abdeslam arrested in Brussels raid

Abdeslam, whose brother blew himself up in the attacks, is now in a Belgian prison and is charged with attempted murder over a March 15 shootout with police in Brussels. He was arrested three days later.

Belgian police have been questioning him about potential links to the three suicide bombers who attacked the Brussels Airport and subway on March 22, killing 32.

READ: More than 120 people killed in Paris ‘terror’ attacks