The investigation is ongoing. Three days before the anniversary of the November 13, 2015 attack, Salah Abdeslam’s former colleague, Maëva B., was doubly indicted this Monday in the investigation and then jailed, for the USB key given to his former colleague and especially for thwarting the jihadist’s attack plans.
The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (Pnat) has opened two separate judicial investigations, on the one hand over a USB key allegedly illegally connected to the computer of Salah Abdeslam, convicted of the 13 November 2015 attack and imprisoned in Vendin-le-Vieil (Pas-de-Calais) prison, and on the other hand over the planned attack carried out by his former colleagues. In this latest case, three protagonists including Maëva B. were charged early Monday for criminal terrorist association and jailed, according to judicial sources.
Maëva B., pale-skinned, light-eyed, loose-fitting black clothes and long brown hair, appeared briefly before several journalists before a closed session in the hearing before the judge of liberty and detention (JLD) who ordered her placement in pre-trial detention.
Earlier on Monday, Pnat indicated in a press release that they had discovered “some discussions or research relating to the development of a separate violent action project, not related to Salah Abdeslam”, on “digital media confiscated during the search carried out at Maëva B’s house.” as part of an investigation opened in January into a banned USB key that was to be given to the only surviving member of the hitman commando squad.
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Two other people were arrested, including a minor
Pnat determined that this woman, who was detained by police for six days, an extraordinary period of time that is only possible if there is a danger of attack or for the need for international cooperation, would show “a certain radicalization and interest in jihad”. She was “separated” from Abdeslam and had “no longer had any relationship since April” with him. He “admitted to having obtained a USB key, loaded it with jihadist propaganda and gave it to Salah Abdeslam in a meeting”, underscored the charges.
Following this discovery, “a 17-year-old minor” and “a 20-year-old man, the new religious husband (of Maëva B.)”, who were arrested in Hérault and Isère, were then taken into police custody on Friday. The 20-year-old man, with close-cropped hair, a long beard and a blue sports jacket, appeared blindfolded on Monday before the JLD, which also announced his detention.
“Our client completely disputes the alleged facts,” said his lawyers, Me Noémie Gorin and Helin Köse.
Regarding the USB key aspect, Maëva B. was also charged with receiving a prohibited object given to a prisoner and placed under court supervision. The prison administration had reported on January 17 to Pnat about the discovery, two days earlier, of “connection traces of four USB keys between December 2024 and January 2025 on a computer legally held by Salah Abdeslam” in custody.
Salah Abdeslam, was “not involved” in the attack plan
The analysis revealed digital documents that “mostly relate to the official propaganda of terrorist organizations, ISIS or Al-Qaeda”, underlined Pnat. The investigation led to “several hearings conducted in Belgium (…) and the identification” of Maëva B., “who at that time benefited from a visit permit” from Salah Abdeslam, which subsequently informed this particular prosecution.
Salah Abdeslam was detained by police twice, then released and returned to custody, Tuesday and Friday. Pnat asked for “further charges.” On Monday, Director General of Internal Security Céline Berthon confirmed that Salah Abdeslam, who is still “radicalized”, “was not involved in the planned attack”. He is “in no way suspected by the court of being involved directly or indirectly in any criminal project”, his lawyer added.
France will commemorate on Thursday, as a day of respect for the victims, of the November 13, 2015 attacks in Paris and Saint-Denis, which left 132 people dead – including two Bataclan suicide victims who suffered deep psychological wounds.
