Fritz-Joly Joachin is wanted in connection with the Charlie Habdo attacks

A Bulgarian court ruled Tuesday that a Frenchman who admits knowing the Charlie Hebdo attackers but denies being an extremist should be extradited to France following an arrest warrant issued by Paris.

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Muslim convert Fritz-Joly Joachin, 29, was arrested on January 1 as he tried to cross from Bulgaria into Turkey.

He told the court in Haskovo in southern Bulgaria: "I am innocent. I want to return to France."

Joachin, of Haitian origin, has admitted to being "old friends" with the Kouachi brothers who shot dead 12 people in Paris on January 7 in an attack on the Paris offices of French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.

Last week he said he used to play football with the brothers and had a "business connection" selling clothes.

But he denies knowing about their plans to launch an Islamist attack.

According to the arrest warrant issued by French authorities, Joachin was travelling on a bus with three other people who knew the Kouachis when he was arrested.

They were allowed to continue travelling into Turkey.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)



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