Washington - French police yesterday arrested Mr James Kopp, a fugitive wanted on charges of killing a New York doctor who performed abortions, and US officials immediately began seeking his extradition.
FBI Director Louis Freeh said Mr Kopp, a long-time anti-abortion activist, was arrested in Dinan in northwest France after leaving a post office where he picked up a package with about $300 in cash.
The unarmed suspect, who has been on the FBI's 10 most wanted list, had been about to leave France, Mr Freeh said.
Mr Kopp has been charged with the 1998 murder of Dr Barnett Slepian (52), who was killed by a sniper as he stood in his kitchen talking with his wife. Mr Joel Mercer, a Buffalo-based FBI agent, said the FBI learned on March 12th that Mr Kopp was then in Ireland.
"We were working with Irish police and determined that he had been in Ireland most of the last 12 months," Mr Mercer said.
"He was living in hostels, working with temporary agencies. The Irish people were four steps behind him when he left Ireland and went to France."