This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/23/brussels-suicide-bombers-named-el-barkaoui-brothers

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Najim Laachraoui: police reportedly arrest Brussels attack suspect Brussels attacks: suicide bombers 'identified as el-Bakraoui brothers'
(35 minutes later)
The main surviving suspect in the twin bomb attacks in Brussels that killed at least 31 people has been arrested, Belgian media have reported. Two of the suspected suicide bombers in the Brussels attacks that killed at least 31 people have been named by the state broadcaster, RTBF, as brothers Khalid and Ibrahim el-Bakraoui.
Najim Laachraoui, one of three men captured on a CCTV camera wheeling loaded luggage trolleys through the capital’s Zaventem airport, was reportedly detained in Anderlecht, west of the capital, after an intensive manhunt. Citing sources close to the investigation, the broadcaster said in an unconfirmed report that Ibrahim el-Bakraoui detonated one of two devices that exploded at the city’s Zaventem airport, killing himself and at least 11 others and injuring more than 90 people.
Khalid el-Bakraoui was responsible for a third explosion, in a metro carriage at the Maelbeek station on the Rue de la Loi, about 250 metres from the offices of the European commission, RTBF said. At least 14 people died in that attack, and more than 130 were wounded.
Related: Brussels attacks: el-Bakraoui brothers 'named as suicide bombers' – liveRelated: Brussels attacks: el-Bakraoui brothers 'named as suicide bombers' – live
The news came after two of the suspected suicide bombers who blew themselves up in the attacks at the airport and the central Maelbeek metro station were named by the state broadcaster, RTBF, as brothers Khalid and Ibrahim el-Bakraoui. Belgian police arrested a man in Anderlecht, west of the capital, on Wednesday morning. Initial reports identified him as Najim Laachraoui, one of three men captured on CCTV footage wheeling luggage trolleys through the airport departure hall, but these were later discounted.
Citing sources close to the investigation, the broadcaster said in an unconfirmed report that Ibrahim el-Bakraoui detonated one of two devices that exploded at the airport, killing himself and at least 11 others and injuring more than 90 people. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, which plunged the Belgian capital into a day-long lockdown, led to heightened security at airports across Europe, and drew swift and strong condemnation from other European countries, the US and Russia.
RTBF said Khalid el-Bakraoui was responsible for a third explosion in a metro carriage at the metro station on the rue de la Loi, about 250 metres from the offices of the European commission. At least 14 people died in that attack and more than 130 were wounded. Belgian police appealed on Tuesday for information about the men seen on the CCTV images. Earlier media reports on Wednesday identified two of them as the el-Bakraoui brothers, and the third as Laachraoui, who is thought to have escaped the blasts, possibly because his device failed to explode, and is still on the run.
There has been no official confirmation of Wednesday’s developments from the Belgian authorities. However, the latest RTBF report only placed one brother – Ibrahim – at the airport, raising questions about the possible existence of a fourth attacker who could have detonated the second airport bomb.
On Tuesday Belgian police appealed for information about the men seen on the CCTV images. Earlier reports on Wednesday identified two of the men, dressed in black, as the el-Bakraoui brothers, and the third as 24-year-old Najim Laachraoui. The brothers, Belgian nationals from Brussels with long criminal records, were well known to police. It had emerged recently that they had clear links to the Paris attacks in November that killed 130 people.
However, the latest RTBF report only places Ibrahim el-Bakraoui at the airport, raising questions about the existence of a possible fourth attacker who may have detonated the second airport bomb. Laachraoui, 24, who is also suspected of involvement in the Paris attacks, was seen on the CCTV footage dressed in a white jacket and hat. The other two attackers on the grainy image were in black and wearing black gloves on their left hands, thought to have concealed detonators.
The two el-Bakraoui brothers, both Belgian nationals, were well known to police as longstanding criminals in the Belgian capital. More recently it had emerged that they had clear links to the bloody series of Paris attacks last November that killed 130 people. One of the el-Bakraoui brothers rented a flat in the Forest area of south-west Brussels. It was raided by police last Tuesday and resulted, three days later, in the capture of Salah Abdeslam, the only known survivor of the 10 Islamist gunmen and suicide bombers who attacked the Bataclan concert hall, Stade de France and a string of cafes and restaurants in Paris last November.
Laachraoui, 24, was seen on the CCTV footage dressed in a white jacket and hat and is also suspected of having links to the Paris attacks. The other two suspects on the grainy image were in black and wearing black gloves on their left hands, thought to have concealed detonators. Heavy weapons, an Islamic State flag and Abdeslam’s fingerprints were found in that Forest raid, during which another suspected member of the Paris attacks cell, Mohamed Belkaïd, was shot by a police sniper.
If the airport bombers prove to be part of the same cell as the Paris attackers, serious questions will be raised about potential police and intelligence failings. An el-Bakraoui brother is also known to have rented a place in Charleroi, Belgium, where two of the Paris attackers – the ringleader, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, and Bilal Hadfi, one of the Stade de France suicide bombers – met before heading to the French capital.
The el-Bakraoui brothers are from Brussels and have a long history in organised crime in Belgium. One of the brothers had rented the flat in Forest, south-west Brussels, which was raided by police last Tuesday, a week before the Brussels attacks, and where Salah Abdeslam, the prime Paris suspect, had been present. In that Forest raid, heavy weapons and an Islamic State flag were found and one member of the Paris attacks cell, Mohamed Belkaïd, an Algerian, was shot by a police sniper.
One of the el-Bakraoui brothers is also known to have rented one of the hideouts of the Paris jihadi team, in Charleroi in Belgium, where two of the attackers met before heading to Paris in November to carry out the attacks that killed 130 people: Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the ringleader, and Bilal Hadfi, one of the Stade de France suicide bombers.
One of the el-Bakraoui brothers is also believed to have provided ammunition and weapons for the Paris attacks in which gunmen opened fire on bars and at a rock concert at the Bataclan, RTBF reported.One of the el-Bakraoui brothers is also believed to have provided ammunition and weapons for the Paris attacks in which gunmen opened fire on bars and at a rock concert at the Bataclan, RTBF reported.
Laachraoui, whose nationality has not been given, was identified this week as a key suspect previously known by his alias, Soufiane Kayal. He is reported to have travelled to Syria in 2013 and was travelling with Abdeslam under his alias in September 2015 when their Mercedes was stopped at the Hungarian border with Austria. Laachraoui, whose nationality has not been given, was identified this week as a key suspect previously known by his alias, Soufiane Kayal. He is reported to have travelled to Syria in 2013 and was with Abdeslam in September 2015 when their Mercedes was stopped at the Hungarian border with Austria.
Laachraoui’s DNA had been found at an apartment used by the attackers in Auvelais, near the central Belgian city of Namur, which he had rented under a false name. Traces were also found at another suspected hideout in Schaerbeek, a district of Brussels. RTBF reported that he could have been one of the bombmakers involved in the Paris attacks. Laachraoui’s DNA was found at an apartment used by the Paris attackers in Auvelais, near the central Belgian city of Namur. Further traces were found at another suspected hideout in Schaerbeek, a district of Brussels. RTBF reported that he could have been one of the bombmakers involved in the Paris attacks.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s attacks, saying through its affiliated news agency Amaq that its fighters carried out “a series of bombings with explosive belts and devices”. The extremists had also opened fire at the airport and suicide belts were detonated in both attacks, it said.
According to local reports, a taxi driver has come forward after recognising CCTV images of the three airport suspects as men he picked up from an apartment block and dropped off at the airport.According to local reports, a taxi driver has come forward after recognising CCTV images of the three airport suspects as men he picked up from an apartment block and dropped off at the airport.
The report said this led police to raid an apartment block in Schaerbeek, where they discovered an explosive device filled with nails, as well as an Islamic State flag and chemicals. The report said this led police to raid apartments in Schaerbeek, where they discovered an explosive device filled with nails, as well as an Islamic State flag and chemicals.
The driver remembered the men had too much luggage to fit into his vehicle and were forced to leave some behind, Belgian news outlet HLN reported. He was also not allowed to assist them in unloading luggage upon arrival at the airport. The driver remembered the men had too much luggage to fit into his vehicle and were forced to leave some behind, the Belgian news outlet HLN reported. He was also not allowed to help them unload the luggage at the airport.
Belgium raised its terror alert to its highest level in the aftermath of the attacks. The airport will remain closed on Wednesday and the metro will be running a reduced service, but schools were expected to open as normal following Tuesday’s city lockdown. Belgium raised its terror alert to its highest level after the attacks. In Brussels, the airport remained closed on Wednesday and the metro was running a reduced service, but schools were expected to open as normal following Tuesday’s city lockdown.
The suspectsThe suspects
Ibrahim el-BakraouiIbrahim el-Bakraoui
El-Bakraoui is believed to have detonated at least some of the explosives at Brussels’ main airport. He and his brother, Khalid, had a long history in organised crime in Belgium and so were well known to police. Both brothers had clear links to the Paris attacks and were among the suspects on the run. El-Bakraoui is believed to have detonated at least some of the explosives at Brussels’ main airport. He and his brother, Khalid, were well known to Belgian police because of there long history of involvement in organised crime. They had clear links to the Paris attacks and were among the suspects on the run.
Unidentified suspectUnidentified suspect
The second bomber at the airport.The second bomber at the airport.
Khalid el-BakraouiKhalid el-Bakraoui
Police told Belgian media they believe Khalid el-Bakroui was responsible for the explosion in a metro carriage at Maelbeek station on the rue de la Loi, which killed at least 14 people and injured more than 130. Like his brother Ibrahim, the suspected airport bomber, he had a history of crime and links to the Paris attacks. He had rented the flat in Forest, south-west Brussels, that was raided by police last Tuesday, exactly a week before the Brussels attacks, and where Salah Abdeslam, the surviving Paris attacker, had been present. Police told Belgian media they believed Khalid el-Bakroui was responsible for the explosion in the metro carriage at Maelbeek station on the Rue de la Loi, which killed at least 14 people and injured more than 130. Like his brother Ibrahim, the suspected airport bomber, he had a history of crime and links to the Paris attacks. He had rented the flat in Forest, south-west Brussels, that was raided by police last Tuesday and where DNA traces of Salah Abdeslam, the surviving Paris attacker, had been found.
Najim LaachraouiNajim Laachraoui
Laachraoui, reportedly under arrest, was identified as a key suspect in the Paris attacks the day before the Brussels bombings. His DNA was found in two hideouts used by Paris attackers and also on explosive material, prosecutors have said. Laachraoui was travelling under an alias with Salah Abdeslam in September last year when their Mercedes was stopped at the Hungarian border with Austria. The Belgian state broadcaster RTBF reported that he could have been one of the bombmakers in the Paris attacks. Laachraoui was identified as a key suspect in the Paris attacks the day before the Brussels bombings. His DNA was found in two hideouts used by Paris attackers and also on explosive material, prosecutors have said. Laachraoui was travelling under an alias with Salah Abdeslam in September last year when their Mercedes was stopped at the Hungarian border with Austria. The Belgian state broadcaster RTBF reported that he could have been one of the bombmakers in the Paris attacks.
Haroon SiddiqueHaroon Siddique