Syrian a suspect in Paris synagogue bombing

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PARIS (JTA) — A Syrian man living in France is a new suspect in the 1980 bombing of a Paris synagogue.

The suspect, now 71, was believed to have helped plan the terror attack of Oct. 3, 1980, which killed four, the daily le Figaro reported Thursday. He has been living in France since 1978, the paper said.

On Nov. 13, a Lebanese Canadian of Palestinian origin, Hassan Diab, was arrested in Canada on charges of perpetrating the attack.

The new suspect, who was not named in the newspaper report, is thought to have suggested the Copernic Synagogue as a target. He also provided a Palestinian terror group with photos of the location and nearby streets, according to investigators who spoke to le Figaro.

On Nov. 18, the Syrian was arrested in his Paris home but was released the next day for lack of proof, according to judges in the case. His computer was seized by judges’ order for further inspection.

During the 1980s, the new suspect is said to have helped French authorities contact Palestinians and some Iranian extremists in order to solve terror crimes targeting France and its citizens, le Figaro reported.

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