Youssef Fofana, centre, the lead suspect in the torture killing of a young French Jewish man, is taken to a plane, heading for France from the airport at Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Saturday. (AP)
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| By: Associated Press |
| Published: March 5, 2006 |
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The chief suspect in the killing of a Jewish man near Paris - a case that has involved the top levels of French government - arrived in France on Saturday after Ivory Coast handed him over to French authorities.
Youssef Fofana, a Frenchman of Ivorian descent, was arrested Feb. 22 in an Abidjan suburb, and Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo signed an extradition order Friday. On Saturday, Fofana was handed over to French soldiers at Abidjan's international airport and flew to Paris aboard a French military plane.
He was taken straight to the Palace of Justice for interrogation, judicial officials said.
The killing of 23-year-old Ilan Halimi has revived fears of anti-Semitism in France, and prompted top government ministers to urge a thorough investigation.
Fofana is accused of leading a gang that kidnapped, tortured and killed Halimi, who was found Feb. 13 - naked, handcuffed and covered with burn marks - near railroad tracks south of Paris. He died on his way to a hospital.
Fofana fled to Abidjan after the body was discovered. French police have detained 18 people in the investigation.
French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy welcomed Ivory Coast's quick decision to extradite. |
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