Father of jihadi girl had no idea about her terror links

Mohamed Boumeddiene went to the authorities just hours after seeing his daughter Hayat’s mugshot on television – released following her husband’s murder of a policewoman and later four hostages in a Parisian deli.

Mr Boumeddiene is said to be shocked and heartbroken by his daughter’s alleged involvement in the terror siege. She is thought to have fled France and made her way to Syria.

Neighbours say he has since locked himself in his flat, disconnected his phone and has been heard crying and saying: ‘I don’t know if she is dead or alive.’

A friend said: ‘He went to the mosque on Friday to pray and then took himself to the police station after he saw her picture on the television.’ 

Mr Boumeddiene, a delivery driver, is understood to have told police he had no idea what his daughter was planning and was ‘shocked’. He was questioned but not arrested.

Police described Hayat, 26, who has reportedly received terror training, as ‘armed and dangerous’.

Her husband Amedy Coulibaly, 32, was part of the same terror cell as the Kouachi brothers – Cherif, 32, and Said, 34 – who killed 12 at the Charlie Hebdo magazine offices.

Boumeddiene is believed to have been involved in the planning of the co-ordinated attacks, after phone records revealed she had exchanged more than 500 calls with Cherif’s wife Izzana last year. 

There were suggestions she had also helped the men gather weapons.

As police revealed she may now be in Syria with Islamic State fighters, friends and neighbours shed light on her troubled but devout childhood. 

Last night, a neighbour who has known the family for more than 20 years, described Mr Boumeddiene’s shock after the photo of Hayat was flashed around the world.

(dailymail.co.uk)