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Brussels attacks: airport suicide bomber el-Bakraoui 'caught in Turkey last June' – live | Brussels attacks: airport suicide bomber el-Bakraoui 'caught in Turkey last June' – live |
(35 minutes later) | |
2.45am GMT | |
02:45 | |
European security chiefs will travel to Brussels on Thursday for an emergency meeting to discuss the fight against terrorism. | |
The EU said the meeting of justice and security ministers was | |
intended to show solidarity with Belgium, discuss the actual state of play in the fight against terrorism and pursue swift completion and implementation of legislation. | |
2.10am GMT | 2.10am GMT |
02:10 | 02:10 |
UK troops are on standby in case of an Isis attack in Britain, the UK defence secretary Michael Fallon has said: | UK troops are on standby in case of an Isis attack in Britain, the UK defence secretary Michael Fallon has said: |
We have troops standing by now to back up the armed police. The armed police are the first response – they are being increased so there are now armed police, more visible at railway stations, airports. The number of armed response vehicles is being increased in our big cities. | We have troops standing by now to back up the armed police. The armed police are the first response – they are being increased so there are now armed police, more visible at railway stations, airports. The number of armed response vehicles is being increased in our big cities. |
So that is in hand, but as back-up to come in behind the armed police, we now have military in reserve and they are able to call up troops – some 5,000 at 24 hours’ notice and more behind that.” | So that is in hand, but as back-up to come in behind the armed police, we now have military in reserve and they are able to call up troops – some 5,000 at 24 hours’ notice and more behind that.” |
Fallon told the BBC that extremists wanted to “create mayhem” in European cities, including London. | Fallon told the BBC that extremists wanted to “create mayhem” in European cities, including London. |
Referring to the statement by Turkey that it had warned Belgium and the Netherlands that Ibrahim El Bakraoui – who would go on to become one of the airport suicide bombers – was a “foreign terrorist fighter”, Fallon said: | Referring to the statement by Turkey that it had warned Belgium and the Netherlands that Ibrahim El Bakraoui – who would go on to become one of the airport suicide bombers – was a “foreign terrorist fighter”, Fallon said: |
I saw that report but I honestly think it is far too early to start criticising the Belgian authorities until the investigation is complete, until we know exactly the movements of these particular people. | I saw that report but I honestly think it is far too early to start criticising the Belgian authorities until the investigation is complete, until we know exactly the movements of these particular people. |
We know that Daesh [Isis] has an external attack-planning operation that is designed to create mayhem on the streets of western cities. London is not exempt from that. | We know that Daesh [Isis] has an external attack-planning operation that is designed to create mayhem on the streets of western cities. London is not exempt from that. |
That’s why we have to work together to combat it and it’s why we are playing such a key part in the coalition against Daesh out in Iraq and Syria. | That’s why we have to work together to combat it and it’s why we are playing such a key part in the coalition against Daesh out in Iraq and Syria. |
1.39am GMT | 1.39am GMT |
01:39 | 01:39 |
Najim Laachraoui: what we know | Najim Laachraoui: what we know |
Najim Laachraoui has been named in Belgian media reports – but not officially confirmed – as the second airport suicide bomber. | Najim Laachraoui has been named in Belgian media reports – but not officially confirmed – as the second airport suicide bomber. |
Like the Bakraoui brothers, he was already being hunted by police in connection with the attacks on Paris, for which he was suspected of being a bomb-maker. | Like the Bakraoui brothers, he was already being hunted by police in connection with the attacks on Paris, for which he was suspected of being a bomb-maker. |
In the confusion following the attacks, local media originally reported that 24-year-old Laachraoui was the suspect in the light-coloured coat and hat believed to have fled the airport without detonating his bomb, and that he had later been arrested. But those reports turned out to be wrong. | In the confusion following the attacks, local media originally reported that 24-year-old Laachraoui was the suspect in the light-coloured coat and hat believed to have fled the airport without detonating his bomb, and that he had later been arrested. But those reports turned out to be wrong. |
Before the Brussels attacks, Belgian prosecutors said DNA evidence had identified Moroccan-born Laachraoui as an accomplice of Paris attacker Salah Abdeslam. His DNA was reported to have been found on “several explosive belts”, as well as at hideouts in Auvelais and Schaerbeek that were used to prepare explosives and hide Abdeslam. | Before the Brussels attacks, Belgian prosecutors said DNA evidence had identified Moroccan-born Laachraoui as an accomplice of Paris attacker Salah Abdeslam. His DNA was reported to have been found on “several explosive belts”, as well as at hideouts in Auvelais and Schaerbeek that were used to prepare explosives and hide Abdeslam. |
Officials believe he used a pseudonym, Soufiane Kayal, to rent the house in Auvelais. A suspect of that name was said by Belgian police in December 2015 to have crossed the Austria-Hungary border with Abdeslam. | Officials believe he used a pseudonym, Soufiane Kayal, to rent the house in Auvelais. A suspect of that name was said by Belgian police in December 2015 to have crossed the Austria-Hungary border with Abdeslam. |
He is also understood to have travelled to Syria in February 2013. | He is also understood to have travelled to Syria in February 2013. |
1.17am GMT | 1.17am GMT |
01:17 | 01:17 |
The Bakraoui brothers: what we know | The Bakraoui brothers: what we know |
Ibrahim el-Bakraoui, 29, detonated one of two devices that exploded at Zaventem airport. His younger brother Khalid el-Bakraoui, 27, was responsible for a third explosion, in a metro carriage at Maelbeek station. | Ibrahim el-Bakraoui, 29, detonated one of two devices that exploded at Zaventem airport. His younger brother Khalid el-Bakraoui, 27, was responsible for a third explosion, in a metro carriage at Maelbeek station. |
Both men died in the attacks. Ibrahim el-Bakraoui was identified from his fingerprints. Police later found a computer containing a last statement from him, in which he said he felt “in a rush, not knowing what to do, being hunted everywhere, not being safe”, and feared “if this goes on, ending up … in a cell”. | Both men died in the attacks. Ibrahim el-Bakraoui was identified from his fingerprints. Police later found a computer containing a last statement from him, in which he said he felt “in a rush, not knowing what to do, being hunted everywhere, not being safe”, and feared “if this goes on, ending up … in a cell”. |
The brothers, both Belgian nationals, had long criminal records, although not for terrorism offences. But police had been searching for them before the Brussels attacks after investigators linked them to the attacks in Paris last November. | The brothers, both Belgian nationals, had long criminal records, although not for terrorism offences. But police had been searching for them before the Brussels attacks after investigators linked them to the attacks in Paris last November. |
One Bakraoui brother rented a flat in the Forest area of south-west Brussels that was raided by police last week, leading days later to the capture of Salah Abdeslam, the only known survivor among the Paris attackers. | One Bakraoui brother rented a flat in the Forest area of south-west Brussels that was raided by police last week, leading days later to the capture of Salah Abdeslam, the only known survivor among the Paris attackers. |
One of the brothers is also known to have rented a hideout in Charleroi, Belgium, where two Paris attackers, Abdelhamid Abaaoud and Bilal Hadfi, met before heading to the French capital. | One of the brothers is also known to have rented a hideout in Charleroi, Belgium, where two Paris attackers, Abdelhamid Abaaoud and Bilal Hadfi, met before heading to the French capital. |
And one of the Bakraoui brothers is also believed to have provided ammunition and weapons for the Paris attacks. | And one of the Bakraoui brothers is also believed to have provided ammunition and weapons for the Paris attacks. |
Related: Suicide bombers in Brussels had known links to Paris attacks | Related: Suicide bombers in Brussels had known links to Paris attacks |
1.01am GMT | 1.01am GMT |
01:01 | 01:01 |
Many of Thursday’s newspaper front pages are still focused on Brussels: the mourning and the questions that have followed revelations about the identities of some of the bombers. | Many of Thursday’s newspaper front pages are still focused on Brussels: the mourning and the questions that have followed revelations about the identities of some of the bombers. |
Le Soir, Belgium | Le Soir, Belgium |
Edition spéciale @lesoir ce jeudi sur les attentats de Bruxelles https://t.co/5txp2EhknI pic.twitter.com/RkCO8AWZw5 | Edition spéciale @lesoir ce jeudi sur les attentats de Bruxelles https://t.co/5txp2EhknI pic.twitter.com/RkCO8AWZw5 |
PZC, Netherlands | PZC, Netherlands |
En zo ziet de voorpagina van donderdag 24 maart eruit: pic.twitter.com/SJvsmRpw19 | En zo ziet de voorpagina van donderdag 24 maart eruit: pic.twitter.com/SJvsmRpw19 |
International New York Times | International New York Times |
Thursday's International NY Times:Belgium on high alert and in mourning#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/2N14y24dRG | Thursday's International NY Times:Belgium on high alert and in mourning#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/2N14y24dRG |
The Guardian | The Guardian |
Thursday's Guardian front page:Brussels killers linked to Paris terror attacks#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/Asn2ahWQac | Thursday's Guardian front page:Brussels killers linked to Paris terror attacks#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/Asn2ahWQac |
12.47am GMT | 12.47am GMT |
00:47 | 00:47 |
The UK’s Daily Telegraph reports that Belgium was ordered to “overhaul” its border force just three weeks ago because guards were failing to check arrivals from high-risk countries against the EU’s counter-terrorism database. | The UK’s Daily Telegraph reports that Belgium was ordered to “overhaul” its border force just three weeks ago because guards were failing to check arrivals from high-risk countries against the EU’s counter-terrorism database. |
The Telegraph says the European Council gave Belgium “an extensive list of recommendations” on 29 February to address its “deficient” border security: | The Telegraph says the European Council gave Belgium “an extensive list of recommendations” on 29 February to address its “deficient” border security: |
At Brussels Charleroi airport, which runs budget flights to Algeria, Tunisia and Turkey, untrained border officers were deployed to check passports, and mandatory daily briefings on new security threats did not take place. | At Brussels Charleroi airport, which runs budget flights to Algeria, Tunisia and Turkey, untrained border officers were deployed to check passports, and mandatory daily briefings on new security threats did not take place. |
The report says that Belgium must “ensure that only the officers who passed the basic border guard training are deployed to perform border checks”. | The report says that Belgium must “ensure that only the officers who passed the basic border guard training are deployed to perform border checks”. |
The full article is here. | The full article is here. |
12.33am GMT | 12.33am GMT |
00:33 | 00:33 |
Paul Karp | Paul Karp |
Belgium’s ambassador to Australia has rejected claims by the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, that Europe’s security is weak, and said blaming the Syrian refugee crisis for terrorism in Europe was dangerous. | Belgium’s ambassador to Australia has rejected claims by the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, that Europe’s security is weak, and said blaming the Syrian refugee crisis for terrorism in Europe was dangerous. |
On Wednesday the prime minister said “early signs” indicated the Brussels attacks had been inspired or planned by Islamic State in Syria: | On Wednesday the prime minister said “early signs” indicated the Brussels attacks had been inspired or planned by Islamic State in Syria: |
Recent intelligence indicates that Isil is using the [Syrian] refugee crisis to send operatives into Europe. | Recent intelligence indicates that Isil is using the [Syrian] refugee crisis to send operatives into Europe. |
But Belgium’s ambassador to Australia, Jean-Luc Bodon, said the statement was | But Belgium’s ambassador to Australia, Jean-Luc Bodon, said the statement was |
dangerous because it’s precisely what Isis wants – that we would make a confusion between terrorism and migration and between terrorism and Islam. | dangerous because it’s precisely what Isis wants – that we would make a confusion between terrorism and migration and between terrorism and Islam. |
He said the Belgian prime minister had asked people “not to blame one community because this is the worst thing that we could do and this is the most counterproductive”. | He said the Belgian prime minister had asked people “not to blame one community because this is the worst thing that we could do and this is the most counterproductive”. |
Turnbull said Australia’s security was stronger than that in Europe because the country has “strong border protection”, with fewer porous borders, and “a much greater insight into people who we would regard as being threats or likely to pose a risk to safety of Australians”. | Turnbull said Australia’s security was stronger than that in Europe because the country has “strong border protection”, with fewer porous borders, and “a much greater insight into people who we would regard as being threats or likely to pose a risk to safety of Australians”. |
He said there had been a “real breakdown in intelligence” in Europe: | He said there had been a “real breakdown in intelligence” in Europe: |
If you can’t control your borders, you don’t know who’s coming or going. Regrettably they allowed things to slip and that weakness in European security is not unrelated to the problems they’ve been having in recent times. | If you can’t control your borders, you don’t know who’s coming or going. Regrettably they allowed things to slip and that weakness in European security is not unrelated to the problems they’ve been having in recent times. |
Bodon said such a claim was “really unfair”: | Bodon said such a claim was “really unfair”: |
You have had attacks in most countries … in the USA, in Europe, they’ve taken place in Paris … in London, in Madrid, in Rome – even in Russia and nobody thinks that Russian intelligence and security services are weak. | You have had attacks in most countries … in the USA, in Europe, they’ve taken place in Paris … in London, in Madrid, in Rome – even in Russia and nobody thinks that Russian intelligence and security services are weak. |
12.13am GMT | 12.13am GMT |
00:13 | 00:13 |
What we know so far | What we know so far |
Claire Phipps | Claire Phipps |
A quick round-up of what we know and don’t know about developments in Brussels: | A quick round-up of what we know and don’t know about developments in Brussels: |
Related: Brussels suicide bombers identified as police hunt suspect caught on CCTV | Related: Brussels suicide bombers identified as police hunt suspect caught on CCTV |
Related: Agonising wait for news of missing loved ones after Brussels attacks | Related: Agonising wait for news of missing loved ones after Brussels attacks |
This is Claire Phipps now picking up the blog again from Ben Quinn. | This is Claire Phipps now picking up the blog again from Ben Quinn. |
11.50pm GMT | 11.50pm GMT |
23:50 | 23:50 |
One of France’s best known ‘public intellectuals,’ Bernard-Henri Lévy, has been sharing his thoughts on the Brussels attacks, and concludes that “Europe is now in a state of emergency” | One of France’s best known ‘public intellectuals,’ Bernard-Henri Lévy, has been sharing his thoughts on the Brussels attacks, and concludes that “Europe is now in a state of emergency” |
“What happened in Brussels presented a new scale,” he told BBC Newsnight a little earlier, suggesting that that ISIS could only be defeated through concerted military action to destroy its training camps. Here’s a snatch of what he said: | “What happened in Brussels presented a new scale,” he told BBC Newsnight a little earlier, suggesting that that ISIS could only be defeated through concerted military action to destroy its training camps. Here’s a snatch of what he said: |
"Europe is now in a state of emergency... it is not only war, it is general war": Bernard-Henri Lévy aka @BHL https://t.co/uKLciHFMbd | "Europe is now in a state of emergency... it is not only war, it is general war": Bernard-Henri Lévy aka @BHL https://t.co/uKLciHFMbd |
11.35pm GMT | 11.35pm GMT |
23:35 | 23:35 |
Wembley Stadium’s arch has been lit up in the colours of the Belgian flag as England’s Football Association paid its respects to the victims of the Brussels bombings. | Wembley Stadium’s arch has been lit up in the colours of the Belgian flag as England’s Football Association paid its respects to the victims of the Brussels bombings. |
The 315-metre long arch, which can be seen for miles across London, was lit in red, yellow and black from 6pm on Wednesday. | The 315-metre long arch, which can be seen for miles across London, was lit in red, yellow and black from 6pm on Wednesday. |
The statement of solidarity brought back memories of November’s terrorist attacks in Paris when Wembley was one of several London buildings to be decorated with the French tricolore. | The statement of solidarity brought back memories of November’s terrorist attacks in Paris when Wembley was one of several London buildings to be decorated with the French tricolore. |