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PARIS TERROR ATTACKS

TERRORISM

‘Stunned’ Schweini to miss Netherlands match

Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger will not play in Tuesday's friendly against the Netherlands after admitting that the wave of terrorist attacks in Paris had left him "speechless".

'Stunned' Schweini to miss Netherlands match
File photo: DPA

Schweinsteiger is one of six players who have been released by head coach Joachim Löw and will not play against the Dutch in Hanover.

“I am still speechless about what happened on Friday,” the 31-year-old wrote on both his Facebook and Twitter accounts.

“My sincerest condolences to everybody who is affected by this terrible tragedy.

“My prayers also go out to all the people who lost their lives the day before in Beirut.

“No matter where you come from and what religion you follow — we are united.”

The Manchester United midfielder captained Germany against France on Friday in a 2-0 defeat which was overshadowed when at least 129 people were killed in a series of violent terrorist attacks across the French capital.

Several deaths occurred near Paris' Stade de France where the friendly international took place.

The fearful German team preferred to spend Friday night at the stadium than drive across the city, the squad attempting to grab some sleep on mattresses on the changing room floor, before flying home early Saturday.

The French Football Federation has said their friendly against England at London's Wembley will go ahead the same day.

TERRORISM

Italian police arrest Algerian wanted for alleged IS ties

Police in Milan said on Thursday they had arrested a 37-year-old Algerian man in the subway, later discovering he was wanted for alleged ties to Islamic State.

Italian police arrest Algerian wanted for alleged IS ties

When stopped by police officers for a routine check, the man became “particularly aggressive”, said police in Milan, who added the arrest took place “in recent days”.

He was “repeatedly shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ while attempting to grab from his backpack an object that turned out to be a knife with a blade more than 12cm (nearly five inches) long,” they said in a statement.

The man was later found to be wanted by authorities in Algeria, suspected since 2015 of belonging to “Islamic State militias and employed in the Syrian-Iraqi theatre of war,” police said.

Police said the suspect was unknown to Italian authorities.

The man is currently in Milan’s San Vittore prison and awaiting extradition, they added.

Jihadist group IS proclaimed a “caliphate” in 2014 across swathes of Syria and Iraq, launching a reign of terror that continues with hit-and-run attacks and ambushes.

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