Moroccan authorities say they have arrested a Belgian national of Moroccan origin “directly linked” to the Paris attacks.

The suspect’s name was not immediately announced but a statement gave his initials in Arabic variously transliterated as GA or JA.

Officials said the man had travelled to Syria to fight with Jabhat al-Nusra, before joining Isis, where he allegedly built relationships with field commanders including the "mastermind" behind the atrocites in Paris, and others threatening attacks in France and Belgium.

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A spokesperson for Morocco's interior ministry said the man was arrested on Monday in Mohammedia, near Casablanca, after travelling through Turkey, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium.

Several arrests have been made in relation to the Paris attacks in Morocco, where a warrant was also issued in November for fugitive Salah Abdeslam.

The 26-year-old French-Moroccan national was born in Brussels, where investigations have since traced him to a flat where suicide belts were manufactured.

He is thought to be the last member of the terror cell who murdered 130 people in the French capital at large, after fleeing to Belgium and then disappearing the following day.

The Moroccan warrant was issued as international manhunt continued, although there was no indication he was in the country at the time.

Abdeslam’s brother, Brahim Abdeslam, blew himself up on the Boulevard Voltaire, and he reportedly met alleged “mastermind” Abdelhamid Abaaoud in prison.

Shape Created with Sketch. In pictures: Paris attacks Show all 25 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. In pictures: Paris attacks 1/25 Paris attacks French police with protective shields walk in line near the Bataclan concert hall Reuters 2/25 Paris attacks Rescuers evacuate an injured person on Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire AFP 3/25 Paris attacks French Vigipirate troops mobilize next to Place de la Bastille AFP 4/25 Paris attacks French soldiers mobilize near to the Place de la Bastille AFP 5/25 Paris attacks Wounded people are evacuated outside the scene of a hostage situation at the Bataclan theatre EPA 6/25 Paris attacks People react as they gather to watch the scene near the Bataclan concert hall Reuters 7/25 Paris attacks French police secure the area outside a cafe near the Bataclan concert hall Reuters 8/25 Paris attacks Rescuers workers evacuate victims near the Bataclan concert hall AFP 9/25 Paris attacks French Prime Minister Manuel Valls and French President Francois Hollande attending an emergency meeting at the Interior Ministry AFP 10/25 Paris attacks Spectators invade the pitch of the Stade de France after explosions were heard outside AP 11/25 Paris attacks A man lies on the ground as French police check his identity near the Bataclan concert hall Reuters 12/25 Paris attacks Police officers man a position close to the Bataclan theatre AFP 13/25 Paris attacks Wounded people are evacuated from the Stade de France in Paris EPA 14/25 Paris attacks Two men evacuate the Place de la Republique square in Paris as a police officer looks on AFP 15/25 Paris attacks Football fans are evacuated from the Stade de France stadium 16/25 Paris attacks An armed police officer Dan Gabriel 17/25 Paris attacks The Stade de France is evacuated after reports of an explosion 18/25 Paris attacks A member of the French fire brigade aids an injured individual near the Bataclan concert hall 19/25 Paris attacks Wounded people are evacuated from the Stade de France in Paris 20/25 Paris attacks Police are seen outside a cafe in 10th arrondissement of the French capital Paris, 21/25 Paris attacks Rescuers assist an injured man on Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire, close to the Bataclan concert hall AFP 22/25 Paris attacks The scene at a restaurant in 10th arrondissement 23/25 Paris attacks The Bataclan theatre - where around 100 people are thought be held hostage 24/25 Paris attacks The Stade de France as it was evacuated 25/25 Paris attacks Forensic experts inspect the site of an attack outside the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis AFP 1/25 Paris attacks French police with protective shields walk in line near the Bataclan concert hall Reuters 2/25 Paris attacks Rescuers evacuate an injured person on Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire AFP 3/25 Paris attacks French Vigipirate troops mobilize next to Place de la Bastille AFP 4/25 Paris attacks French soldiers mobilize near to the Place de la Bastille AFP 5/25 Paris attacks Wounded people are evacuated outside the scene of a hostage situation at the Bataclan theatre EPA 6/25 Paris attacks People react as they gather to watch the scene near the Bataclan concert hall Reuters 7/25 Paris attacks French police secure the area outside a cafe near the Bataclan concert hall Reuters 8/25 Paris attacks Rescuers workers evacuate victims near the Bataclan concert hall AFP 9/25 Paris attacks French Prime Minister Manuel Valls and French President Francois Hollande attending an emergency meeting at the Interior Ministry AFP 10/25 Paris attacks Spectators invade the pitch of the Stade de France after explosions were heard outside AP 11/25 Paris attacks A man lies on the ground as French police check his identity near the Bataclan concert hall Reuters 12/25 Paris attacks Police officers man a position close to the Bataclan theatre AFP 13/25 Paris attacks Wounded people are evacuated from the Stade de France in Paris EPA 14/25 Paris attacks Two men evacuate the Place de la Republique square in Paris as a police officer looks on AFP 15/25 Paris attacks Football fans are evacuated from the Stade de France stadium 16/25 Paris attacks An armed police officer Dan Gabriel 17/25 Paris attacks The Stade de France is evacuated after reports of an explosion 18/25 Paris attacks A member of the French fire brigade aids an injured individual near the Bataclan concert hall 19/25 Paris attacks Wounded people are evacuated from the Stade de France in Paris 20/25 Paris attacks Police are seen outside a cafe in 10th arrondissement of the French capital Paris, 21/25 Paris attacks Rescuers assist an injured man on Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire, close to the Bataclan concert hall AFP 22/25 Paris attacks The scene at a restaurant in 10th arrondissement 23/25 Paris attacks The Bataclan theatre - where around 100 people are thought be held hostage 24/25 Paris attacks The Stade de France as it was evacuated 25/25 Paris attacks Forensic experts inspect the site of an attack outside the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis AFP

The Isis militant’s younger brother, Yassine Abaaoud, had been arrested in the Moroccan city of Agadir in October after landing in the country.

Moroccan authorities have arrested scores of suspected Isis militants in recent months, including a cell allegedly planning a bombing attack.

Around 1,500 Moroccan nationals are believed to be fighting with armed groups in Syria and Iraq.

Authorities estimated that around 220 have returned home and been jailed and 286 have been killed by the end of last year.

Additional reporting by Reuters and AP

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