FRENCH Justice officials said they had detained Mr Jean Louis Becker, a 46 year old on suspicion of assisting the IRA. Mr Becker was arrested at the request of British authorities at his home in the La Manche region of north west France.
Scotland Yard had discovered Mr Becker's French national identity card during a July 15th raid on a London apartment. Explosives were found and seven people were arrested. The photograph of one of the seven, Mr Robert Ewin Morrow, had been substituted for Mr Becker's photo on the ID card.
London then issued an international arrest warrant, which was transmitted to Mr Jean Louis Bruguiere, France's chief investigating judge for cases involving extremist groups.
French police found publications of the Irish republican information service in Mr Becker's home. They are continuing their investigation. But regardless of what they find, Mr Becker will not be extradited to Britain.
European Union justice ministers signed a new extradition agreement in Dublin on September 27th, but the accord will not become valid until 90 days after ratification by EU member states. Furthermore, a get out clause allows signatories to make exceptions after expressing their reservations about the agreement.
