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| Brussels attacks: airport suicide bomber el-Bakraoui 'caught in Turkey last June' – live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.18pm GMT | |
| 21:18 | |
| Nicolas Hénin, the French journalist who was kept as hostage by Isis for 10 months, writes in a just-published piece for the Guardian that those who held him will draw as much satisfaction from the “banal images” of the three airport attackers as other images associated with the group, such as the black flags and orange suits prisoners are made to wear. | |
| He writes that the picture sends a message: | |
| …. that the enemy looks ordinary and walks among you. It is one of the goals of Isis to sow division and make us afraid of one another. That was one of the things I learned during my captivity. | |
| He adds that how Europe reacts is now absolutely crucial, “but the omens are not good”: | |
| Already Manuel Valls, the French prime minister, and François Hollande, the president, have fallen into the trap of referring to this challenge as a “war”. That is the last thing they should be saying. I can tell them from my experience that this is the sort of approach Isis wants. | |
| The terrorists don’t just want to talk about a war, they hope to provoke, within Europe itself, a civil war. But this is not a war, and we must not see it as such. | |
| I prefer to call it large-scale political violence. And the important thing about that approach is that we have seen large-scale political violence before in our history. If we adopt a militaristic, warlike vocabulary, there will be no way back from that. We will only strengthen our enemies. | |
| You can read the pieces in full here: | |
| Updated | |
| at 9.22pm GMT | |
| 9.05pm GMT | |
| 21:05 | |
| An American couple who were feared to have been among those caught up in the blasts in Brussels are alive, according to Janet Shamlian of NBC News. | |
| BREAKING: Tennessee couple missing in Brussels terror attack found alive! Injuries unknown pic.twitter.com/v6XDTfhC7m | |
| 9.00pm GMT | 9.00pm GMT |
| 21:00 | 21:00 |
| Calls are mounting to urgently redress a “security deficit” at the heart of the European Union by crafting more of a collective response to terror attacks, according to the Financial Times. | Calls are mounting to urgently redress a “security deficit” at the heart of the European Union by crafting more of a collective response to terror attacks, according to the Financial Times. |
| It quotes Antonio Tajani, an Italian centre-right MEP who is responsible for internal security at the European Parliament, as saying: | It quotes Antonio Tajani, an Italian centre-right MEP who is responsible for internal security at the European Parliament, as saying: |
| We need to create a sort of Europol for intelligence or we risk being hit again. It’s not enough to say that we are against terrorism if the Italians and the Germans don’t talk to each other, if the French and Belgians don’t talk to each other | We need to create a sort of Europol for intelligence or we risk being hit again. It’s not enough to say that we are against terrorism if the Italians and the Germans don’t talk to each other, if the French and Belgians don’t talk to each other |
| Aside from intelligence sharing, some in Europe’s security apparatus are said to believe that the real issue is a patchiness when it comes to security capabilities. | Aside from intelligence sharing, some in Europe’s security apparatus are said to believe that the real issue is a patchiness when it comes to security capabilities. |
| While Britain and France have significant resources, followed perhaps by Germany, Belgium’s own state security service is said to be severely stretched. | While Britain and France have significant resources, followed perhaps by Germany, Belgium’s own state security service is said to be severely stretched. |
| This is Ben Quinn picking up the blog now from Raya. | This is Ben Quinn picking up the blog now from Raya. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 9.03pm GMT | at 9.03pm GMT |
| 8.41pm GMT | 8.41pm GMT |
| 20:41 | 20:41 |
| Latest summary | Latest summary |
| Raya Jalabi | Raya Jalabi |
| Here’s what we know so far: | Here’s what we know so far: |
| The attackers | The attackers |
| Paris correspondent Angelique Chrisafis spoke to neighbors in Schaerbeek, for more on the four Brussels attackers. Read the full report here. | Paris correspondent Angelique Chrisafis spoke to neighbors in Schaerbeek, for more on the four Brussels attackers. Read the full report here. |
| The victims | The victims |
| Read the full report on victims here. | Read the full report on victims here. |
| The investigation | The investigation |
| Belgium is now facing awkward questions over the bombers’ links to Paris terror cell, writes Jon Henley. (Read the full report here). | Belgium is now facing awkward questions over the bombers’ links to Paris terror cell, writes Jon Henley. (Read the full report here). |
| The Global Response | The Global Response |
| The practicalities | The practicalities |
| That’s it from New York, handing over the blog to Ben Quinn in London. | That’s it from New York, handing over the blog to Ben Quinn in London. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 9.10pm GMT | |
| 8.25pm GMT | 8.25pm GMT |
| 20:25 | 20:25 |
| Ben Quinn | Ben Quinn |
| The fallout from the attacks on Brussels is continuing to have an impact on the UK’s debate ahead of the referendum on membership of the European Union. | The fallout from the attacks on Brussels is continuing to have an impact on the UK’s debate ahead of the referendum on membership of the European Union. |
| The UK’s defence secretary, Michael Fallon, has said in the last hour that he rejects the argument from a former head of MI6 from 1999 to 2004, Sir Richard Dearlove, who claimed that said “the cost to Britain would be low”, from a security perspective, if it were to leave the EU. | The UK’s defence secretary, Michael Fallon, has said in the last hour that he rejects the argument from a former head of MI6 from 1999 to 2004, Sir Richard Dearlove, who claimed that said “the cost to Britain would be low”, from a security perspective, if it were to leave the EU. |
| “What is very clear to me is that we should not be leaving intelligence sharing partnerships,” Fallon said in an interview with Channel 4 News. | “What is very clear to me is that we should not be leaving intelligence sharing partnerships,” Fallon said in an interview with Channel 4 News. |
| “That is exactly not the thing to do. We should be coming to the aid of our allies and friends rather than walking out on them.” | “That is exactly not the thing to do. We should be coming to the aid of our allies and friends rather than walking out on them.” |
| “This is a European problem and what we certainly can’t do, long beore the referendum is to leave an arrangement which allows is to pool intelligence and information with allies that are just 20 miles away across the channel.” | “This is a European problem and what we certainly can’t do, long beore the referendum is to leave an arrangement which allows is to pool intelligence and information with allies that are just 20 miles away across the channel.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.27pm GMT | at 8.27pm GMT |
| 8.18pm GMT | 8.18pm GMT |
| 20:18 | 20:18 |
| Arthur Neslen | Arthur Neslen |
| Arthur Neslen has been speaking to survivors of the twin attacks in Brussels. Here’s an interview with Joe Hennon, who was on the train behind the one that exploded in Maelbeek: | Arthur Neslen has been speaking to survivors of the twin attacks in Brussels. Here’s an interview with Joe Hennon, who was on the train behind the one that exploded in Maelbeek: |
| Hennon, an Irish commission official was on the train behind the one that exploded in Maelbeek. The first he knew of the tragedy was when “the lights went off and then the engine went off,” he said. “I immediately thought something was up so I got off. A lot of people were standing around looking towards Maelbeek but it was hard to see what was going on. A few people started running up the ‘down’ escalator but most just went up the normal way.” | Hennon, an Irish commission official was on the train behind the one that exploded in Maelbeek. The first he knew of the tragedy was when “the lights went off and then the engine went off,” he said. “I immediately thought something was up so I got off. A lot of people were standing around looking towards Maelbeek but it was hard to see what was going on. A few people started running up the ‘down’ escalator but most just went up the normal way.” |
| Outside, police were descending on Maelbeek from all sides with sirens blaring. Smoke was fuming from the station. Hennon said: “It looked like there were hundreds of people coming out of every building onto the street. At one point they all began running up the street from Maelbeek in every directions, provoking a stampede. It was hard to work out what was going on.” | Outside, police were descending on Maelbeek from all sides with sirens blaring. Smoke was fuming from the station. Hennon said: “It looked like there were hundreds of people coming out of every building onto the street. At one point they all began running up the street from Maelbeek in every directions, provoking a stampede. It was hard to work out what was going on.” |
| “Police were trying to get through the traffic, telling people to get up on the sidewalk and make way for them. I was torn between seeing what was going on and trying to help, but you don’t really know, there could be someone down there with a Kalashnikov running amok, so I just walked to the nearest park.” | “Police were trying to get through the traffic, telling people to get up on the sidewalk and make way for them. I was torn between seeing what was going on and trying to help, but you don’t really know, there could be someone down there with a Kalashnikov running amok, so I just walked to the nearest park.” |
| 7.47pm GMT | 7.47pm GMT |
| 19:47 | 19:47 |
| Arthur Neslen | Arthur Neslen |
| Arthur Neslen has been speaking to survivors of the twin attacks in Brussels. Here’s an interview with David Crunelle, an art director who was at Zaventem airport when the bombs went off: | Arthur Neslen has been speaking to survivors of the twin attacks in Brussels. Here’s an interview with David Crunelle, an art director who was at Zaventem airport when the bombs went off: |
| Four minutes before Tuesday morning’s explosion at the Zaventem airport, David Crunelle, a 36-year-old art director, arrived at the main hall to drop off his luggage for a flight to Japan. The counter was opposite the check-in booths run by Delta and American Airlines. | Four minutes before Tuesday morning’s explosion at the Zaventem airport, David Crunelle, a 36-year-old art director, arrived at the main hall to drop off his luggage for a flight to Japan. The counter was opposite the check-in booths run by Delta and American Airlines. |
| “Suddenly, there was a huge blast and dust crashed down from the ceiling,” he said. “We heard people screaming, shouting and panicking. Then there was another blast a few seconds later. I was 20 metres from the first explosion so my right eardrum was slightly damaged by the noise.” | “Suddenly, there was a huge blast and dust crashed down from the ceiling,” he said. “We heard people screaming, shouting and panicking. Then there was another blast a few seconds later. I was 20 metres from the first explosion so my right eardrum was slightly damaged by the noise.” |
| In an instant, the hall was transformed into a theatre of glass, dust and bomb casualties strewn across the floor and shrouded in smoke, he said. | In an instant, the hall was transformed into a theatre of glass, dust and bomb casualties strewn across the floor and shrouded in smoke, he said. |
| “A lot of people had their skin cut off or damaged by small pieces of glass that had exploded from the ceiling, windows and walls,” Crunelle said. “Injured people were walking out dizzy and in complete shock. In the center of this hall, close to the second explosion, I saw between five and seven bodies on the ground.” | “A lot of people had their skin cut off or damaged by small pieces of glass that had exploded from the ceiling, windows and walls,” Crunelle said. “Injured people were walking out dizzy and in complete shock. In the center of this hall, close to the second explosion, I saw between five and seven bodies on the ground.” |
| The airport’s artificial ceiling was collapsing, which made it hard to see. “We saw a few corpses – I don’t want to say corpses but people who weren’t able to walk or stand up – right at the end of the terminal.” | The airport’s artificial ceiling was collapsing, which made it hard to see. “We saw a few corpses – I don’t want to say corpses but people who weren’t able to walk or stand up – right at the end of the terminal.” |
| “I didn’t notice the two people but I’m sure we arrived at around the same time and our paths crossed,” Crunelle said. “I feel very, very lucky to be alive”. | “I didn’t notice the two people but I’m sure we arrived at around the same time and our paths crossed,” Crunelle said. “I feel very, very lucky to be alive”. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.18pm GMT | at 8.18pm GMT |
| 7.33pm GMT | 7.33pm GMT |
| 19:33 | 19:33 |
| Kareem Shaheen | Kareem Shaheen |
| Turkish officials have provided more detail of Ibrahim Bakraoui’s detention and deportation from Turkey in the summer of 2015, including on their warnings to Belgium that he was a suspected foreign fighter, writes the Guardian’s Middle East reporter Kareem Shaheen. | Turkish officials have provided more detail of Ibrahim Bakraoui’s detention and deportation from Turkey in the summer of 2015, including on their warnings to Belgium that he was a suspected foreign fighter, writes the Guardian’s Middle East reporter Kareem Shaheen. |
| Bakraoui arrived in Antalya, a popular tourist destination, in June 2015. He was detained a week later in Gaziantep by Turkish security forces, who flagged him after he had entered the country as a potential foreign fighter that Turkey believed intended to travel to Syria. | Bakraoui arrived in Antalya, a popular tourist destination, in June 2015. He was detained a week later in Gaziantep by Turkish security forces, who flagged him after he had entered the country as a potential foreign fighter that Turkey believed intended to travel to Syria. |
| Belgium was informed of his arrest by Turkey on the 14th of July, and the Belgian authorities replied on the 20th of July, saying they had detained Bakraoui before but had released him because they were unable to find any terror links. Turkey wrote back to Belgium warning them that he was considered a foreign fighter with links to Syria. | Belgium was informed of his arrest by Turkey on the 14th of July, and the Belgian authorities replied on the 20th of July, saying they had detained Bakraoui before but had released him because they were unable to find any terror links. Turkey wrote back to Belgium warning them that he was considered a foreign fighter with links to Syria. |
| Bakraoui was deported to the Netherlands upon his request. Since Belgium did not request an extradition, he was free to travel anywhere in the EU zone. In such a situation, the Turkish government informs the country of nationality (Belgium) and the destination country (the Netherlands) of his status. | Bakraoui was deported to the Netherlands upon his request. Since Belgium did not request an extradition, he was free to travel anywhere in the EU zone. In such a situation, the Turkish government informs the country of nationality (Belgium) and the destination country (the Netherlands) of his status. |
| Turkey currently has over 38,000 individuals from 128 countries who are banned from entering Turkey, and have deported over 3,200 individuals. | Turkey currently has over 38,000 individuals from 128 countries who are banned from entering Turkey, and have deported over 3,200 individuals. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.18pm GMT | at 8.18pm GMT |
| 7.28pm GMT | 7.28pm GMT |
| 19:28 | 19:28 |
| According to several French and Belgian media reports, the second Zaventem airport suicide bomber has been identified by Belgian authorities as Najim Laachraoui. | According to several French and Belgian media reports, the second Zaventem airport suicide bomber has been identified by Belgian authorities as Najim Laachraoui. |
| Le Monde is reporting that Laachraoui was identified by his DNA, which Agence France-Presse is eporting was found at several hide-outs used by the November Paris attackers, as well as on explosive material used during the November attacks on Paris and Saint-Denis. | Le Monde is reporting that Laachraoui was identified by his DNA, which Agence France-Presse is eporting was found at several hide-outs used by the November Paris attackers, as well as on explosive material used during the November attacks on Paris and Saint-Denis. |
| The Guardian has not yet independently verified these reports. | The Guardian has not yet independently verified these reports. |
| 7.07pm GMT | 7.07pm GMT |
| 19:07 | 19:07 |
| Update: 300 wounded, 61 remain in intensive care, 40 nationalities | Update: 300 wounded, 61 remain in intensive care, 40 nationalities |
| Here’s an update on the conditions of the wounded, from the office of Belgian health minister Maggie de Block. Here are the main updates: | Here’s an update on the conditions of the wounded, from the office of Belgian health minister Maggie de Block. Here are the main updates: |
| (read the announcement in French) | (read the announcement in French) |
| More on the hospitals treating the wounded here: | More on the hospitals treating the wounded here: |
| Related: 'These are war wounds': Brussels hospitals treat terror attack victims | Related: 'These are war wounds': Brussels hospitals treat terror attack victims |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.18pm GMT | at 8.18pm GMT |
| 6.46pm GMT | 6.46pm GMT |
| 18:46 | 18:46 |
| Kareem Shaheen | Kareem Shaheen |
| More on the 2015 deportation from Turkey of Ibrahim el-Bakraoui, one of the two suspected Zaventem airport bombers, from Middle East reporter Kareem Shaheen who spoke with a Turkish counter-terrorism official: | More on the 2015 deportation from Turkey of Ibrahim el-Bakraoui, one of the two suspected Zaventem airport bombers, from Middle East reporter Kareem Shaheen who spoke with a Turkish counter-terrorism official: |
| • This post was updated on Wednesday 23 March to correctly reflect that el-Bakraoui was in fact known to Belgian authorities. | • This post was updated on Wednesday 23 March to correctly reflect that el-Bakraoui was in fact known to Belgian authorities. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.56pm GMT | at 7.56pm GMT |
| 6.24pm GMT | 6.24pm GMT |
| 18:24 | 18:24 |
| Earlier today, Belgian police raided a house in the Brussels suburb of Anderlecht, and detained someone – mistakenly identified by early media reports as the fugitive suspect Najim Laachraoui. Paul Nolan visited Anderlecht following news of the raids: | Earlier today, Belgian police raided a house in the Brussels suburb of Anderlecht, and detained someone – mistakenly identified by early media reports as the fugitive suspect Najim Laachraoui. Paul Nolan visited Anderlecht following news of the raids: |
| Burly masked men from Belgian’s security forces huddled outside a residence in Anderlecht, the latest building that appears to have a connection to terrorism. | Burly masked men from Belgian’s security forces huddled outside a residence in Anderlecht, the latest building that appears to have a connection to terrorism. |
| Locals looked on incredulously as the masked men exited with boxes filled with files before speeding away in dark cars. | Locals looked on incredulously as the masked men exited with boxes filled with files before speeding away in dark cars. |
| Michelle, 43, who lives two blocks away, said she was worried but not surprised by the raid. A cafeteria worker at a local school, she said that teachers were generally unable to control the students at the school, and she linked the terror attacks to the violence she sees in the playground. She said she would move far away if she could afford it. | Michelle, 43, who lives two blocks away, said she was worried but not surprised by the raid. A cafeteria worker at a local school, she said that teachers were generally unable to control the students at the school, and she linked the terror attacks to the violence she sees in the playground. She said she would move far away if she could afford it. |
| A grim industrial-looking canal runs through the neighborhood alongside car spare parts businesses. Tourists are drawn to the Erasmus Museum and Jean-Claude Van Damme has his very own statue here. | A grim industrial-looking canal runs through the neighborhood alongside car spare parts businesses. Tourists are drawn to the Erasmus Museum and Jean-Claude Van Damme has his very own statue here. |
| Vincent, 53, has been living here for the past 16 years. He is part of the Flemish-speaking minority in Brussels though speaks fluent French. Sipping a beer outside Chez Marie on Place de la Vaillance, he said traditional Belgian brasseries like this one are a dying breed. Moroccans, he said, have become the majority and changed the face of Anderlecht. Although he accepts the change, he said he is nostalgic for the past. | Vincent, 53, has been living here for the past 16 years. He is part of the Flemish-speaking minority in Brussels though speaks fluent French. Sipping a beer outside Chez Marie on Place de la Vaillance, he said traditional Belgian brasseries like this one are a dying breed. Moroccans, he said, have become the majority and changed the face of Anderlecht. Although he accepts the change, he said he is nostalgic for the past. |
| But two locals, Janaid, 19, and Anass, 21, have a more optimistic view of the area having grown up here. On the way to play basketball with friends, they said Anderlecht has a lot to offer. They never feel bored or threatened. When asked if they were shocked that Anderlecht could be connected to the terror attack they said they had heard the news on the radio and found it hard to believe. | But two locals, Janaid, 19, and Anass, 21, have a more optimistic view of the area having grown up here. On the way to play basketball with friends, they said Anderlecht has a lot to offer. They never feel bored or threatened. When asked if they were shocked that Anderlecht could be connected to the terror attack they said they had heard the news on the radio and found it hard to believe. |
| Further up the road, military personnel and armored vehicles guarded the entrance to metro Saint Guidon. A local Stib transport official said people have been steering clear of public transport despite only 10 stations being closed. Shopkeepers and businesses were for the most part operational, even if under a latent threat of impending terror. The question that remains is whether this is the new normal. | Further up the road, military personnel and armored vehicles guarded the entrance to metro Saint Guidon. A local Stib transport official said people have been steering clear of public transport despite only 10 stations being closed. Shopkeepers and businesses were for the most part operational, even if under a latent threat of impending terror. The question that remains is whether this is the new normal. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.54pm GMT | at 6.54pm GMT |
| 6.07pm GMT | 6.07pm GMT |
| 18:07 | 18:07 |
| Brussels airport has announced a suspension of all passenger flights until Saturday 26 March. | Brussels airport has announced a suspension of all passenger flights until Saturday 26 March. |
| There will be no passenger flights into and out of #brusselsairport till Friday 25 March included. Contact your airline for flight info. | There will be no passenger flights into and out of #brusselsairport till Friday 25 March included. Contact your airline for flight info. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.14pm GMT | at 6.14pm GMT |
| 5.43pm GMT | 5.43pm GMT |
| 17:43 | 17:43 |
| Turkey: Ibrahim el-Bakraoui was attacker detained and deported | Turkey: Ibrahim el-Bakraoui was attacker detained and deported |
| A Turkish government official has confirmed to the Guardian that the bomber referred to in Erdogan’s earlier statement is Ibrahim el-Bakraoui. | A Turkish government official has confirmed to the Guardian that the bomber referred to in Erdogan’s earlier statement is Ibrahim el-Bakraoui. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.03pm GMT | at 6.03pm GMT |
| 5.15pm GMT | 5.15pm GMT |
| 17:15 | 17:15 |
| Meanwhile, there are long queues to get through security checks at Brussels’ central train station. | Meanwhile, there are long queues to get through security checks at Brussels’ central train station. |
| That's veeeery long queue to be security-checked into #Brussels Gare Central. Metro replacement buses working well pic.twitter.com/nRiIKA13sK | That's veeeery long queue to be security-checked into #Brussels Gare Central. Metro replacement buses working well pic.twitter.com/nRiIKA13sK |
| Gare centrale très difficile d'accès #bruxelles pic.twitter.com/oESQMieXbn | Gare centrale très difficile d'accès #bruxelles pic.twitter.com/oESQMieXbn |