Reports: Bin Laden link to Paris plot

Jean-Louis Bruguiere is investigating allegations of a plan to attack the U.S. embassy in Paris

PARIS, France (CNN) -- An Algerian arrested in Dubai has told prosecutors that he was recruited and trained by a key aide to Osama bin Laden and his target was the U.S. Embassy in Paris, several media outlets reported on Tuesday.

The office of Jean-Louis Bruguiere, the magistrate investigating allegations of a terrorist plot to attack the U.S. Embassy, would neither confirm nor deny the reports of a confession by Djamel Begal.

A spokesman for the magistrate said under French law the magistrate is bound not to make any disclosures until the investigation is finished.

However, the fact that the charge was not denied is considered significant.

A reporter for Europe 1 Radio said he had seen the confession and that in it, Begal, 35, told magistrates that he was recruited by bin Laden aide Abu Zubeida and trained at an al Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan.

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He said that the Paris attacks were to involve a minibus packed with explosives.

Begal outlined his training and the planned attack in 11 hours of questioning.

British authorities said on Saturday that a man arrested in Britain under the country's anti-terrorism law had been returned to France from Britain.

Kamel Daoudi was arrested in Leicester, England, last week under Britain's anti-terrorism law.

Two other men arrested at the same time are still in police custody.

French media have linked Daoudi with seven people arrested in France on September 21 with an alleged plot to attack American interests in France, including the U.S. Embassy.