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| Suicide bombers in Brussels had known links to Paris attacks | Suicide bombers in Brussels had known links to Paris attacks |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| All three suspected suicide bombers in the Brussels attacks had known links to the terror cell behind November’s carnage in Paris, and one was flagged as an Islamist militant and deported from Turkey last June, it has emerged. | All three suspected suicide bombers in the Brussels attacks had known links to the terror cell behind November’s carnage in Paris, and one was flagged as an Islamist militant and deported from Turkey last June, it has emerged. |
| Raising awkward questions for Belgium’s intelligence services, Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said Belgium ignored Turkey’s warnings that Ibrahim el-Bakraoui, who blew himself up in Tuesday’s attacks, was a foreign fighter. | Raising awkward questions for Belgium’s intelligence services, Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said Belgium ignored Turkey’s warnings that Ibrahim el-Bakraoui, who blew himself up in Tuesday’s attacks, was a foreign fighter. |
| Related: Paris and Brussels: the links between the attackers | |
| Belgium’s federal prosecutor, Frédéric Van Leeuw, on Wednesday named Ibrahim and his brother, Khalid el-Bakraoui, as two of the suicide bombers in the coordinated attacks on Zaventem airport and a downtown metro station, killing at least 31 people and wounding 270. | |
| Police sources told Belgian media and the AFP news agency Agence France-Presse that a second suicide bomber in the airport attack was Najim Laachraoui, 24, a suspected Islamic State recruiter and bombmaker whose DNA was found on two explosives belts used in the Paris attacks and at a Brussels safe houses used by Salah Abdeslam, the sole surviving suspect in those attacks who was, captured last week. | |
| Ibrahim el-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 14 July, and the Belgian authorities replied on 20 July, saying they had detained el-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. | |
| El-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. In such a situation, the Turkish government informs the country of nationality (Belgium) and the destination country (the Netherlands) of his status. | El-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. 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 more than 38,000 individuals from 128 countries who are banned from entering Turkey, and has deported more than 3,200 individuals. | Turkey currently has more than 38,000 individuals from 128 countries who are banned from entering Turkey, and has deported more than 3,200 individuals. |
| Related: Belgium holds minute's silence for Brussels attack victims | Related: Belgium holds minute's silence for Brussels attack victims |
| Both el-Bakraoui brothers had served prison sentences, for firing on police and car-jacking, and were known to have played a significant part in the logistics of the Paris shootings and suicide bombings that left 130 people dead. | Both el-Bakraoui brothers had served prison sentences, for firing on police and car-jacking, and were known to have played a significant part in the logistics of the Paris shootings and suicide bombings that left 130 people dead. |
| One had also rented one of the Brussels apartments where Salah Abeslam is believed to have been in hiding before his capture on 15 March: their connections to Isis extremism were known. | One had also rented one of the Brussels apartments where Salah Abeslam is believed to have been in hiding before his capture on 15 March: their connections to Isis extremism were known. |
| Van Leeuw told a news conference that Ibrahim el-Bakraoui, 29, who was identified from his fingerprints, detonated one of two devices that exploded at the airport just before 8am, killing himself and 11 others and injuring more than 90. | Van Leeuw told a news conference that Ibrahim el-Bakraoui, 29, who was identified from his fingerprints, detonated one of two devices that exploded at the airport just before 8am, killing himself and 11 others and injuring more than 90. |
| Police searching a street in the Schaerbeek district of the capital found a computer in a rubbish bin containing a last statement from the airport suicide bomber, 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”. | Police searching a street in the Schaerbeek district of the capital found a computer in a rubbish bin containing a last statement from the airport suicide bomber, 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”. |
| His younger brother Khalid, 27, was responsible for a third blast, an hour later in a metro carriage at the Maelbeek station near the offices of the European commission. At least 14 people died in that attack, and more than 130 were wounded. | His younger brother Khalid, 27, was responsible for a third blast, an hour later in a metro carriage at the Maelbeek station near the offices of the European commission. At least 14 people died in that attack, and more than 130 were wounded. |
| Van Leeuw said the two airport bombs exploded within seconds of each other at 7.58am, near the check-in desks of rows 11 and two in the main departure hall. He named Ibrahim as one of three men caught on a CCTV camera wheeling loaded baggage trolleys across the airport departure hall. | Van Leeuw said the two airport bombs exploded within seconds of each other at 7.58am, near the check-in desks of rows 11 and two in the main departure hall. He named Ibrahim as one of three men caught on a CCTV camera wheeling loaded baggage trolleys across the airport departure hall. |
| Related: Timeline of the Brussels attacks | Related: Timeline of the Brussels attacks |
| The prosecutor did not identify the two other men seen on the image – the second airport suicide bomber, and a fourth member of the terror group, in a white jacket and hat, who apparently survived after leaving behind a suitcase containing a “very large explosive charge” and who was now being “actively sought”. | The prosecutor did not identify the two other men seen on the image – the second airport suicide bomber, and a fourth member of the terror group, in a white jacket and hat, who apparently survived after leaving behind a suitcase containing a “very large explosive charge” and who was now being “actively sought”. |
| Isis 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 capitals including Moscow, and the US. | Isis 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 capitals including Moscow, and the US. |
| As more than 1,000 people lit candles and chalked drawings and messages on the ground outside the Brussels bourse, Van Leeuw said the death toll from the attacks stood at 31 but was likely to rise, with 270 injured. | As more than 1,000 people lit candles and chalked drawings and messages on the ground outside the Brussels bourse, Van Leeuw said the death toll from the attacks stood at 31 but was likely to rise, with 270 injured. |
| At noon on Wednesday, Belgium observed a minute’s silence. King Philippe, the prime minister, Charles Michel, president of the European commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the French prime minister, Manuel Valls, attended a memorial event at the European commission. | At noon on Wednesday, Belgium observed a minute’s silence. King Philippe, the prime minister, Charles Michel, president of the European commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the French prime minister, Manuel Valls, attended a memorial event at the European commission. |
| “We are determined, admittedly with a strong feeling of pain in our stomachs, but determined to act,” Michel told journalists. “France and Belgium are united in pain more than ever.” Valls urged a united response. He said: “It is Europe that has been attacked. The response to terrorism must be European.” | “We are determined, admittedly with a strong feeling of pain in our stomachs, but determined to act,” Michel told journalists. “France and Belgium are united in pain more than ever.” Valls urged a united response. He said: “It is Europe that has been attacked. The response to terrorism must be European.” |
| Valls suggested EU nations would have to “invest massively in their security systems”, with more funds needed for “manpower, technology to face the types of threats that we will have to face”. | Valls suggested EU nations would have to “invest massively in their security systems”, with more funds needed for “manpower, technology to face the types of threats that we will have to face”. |
| Dimitris Avramopoulos, the EU commissioner for migration and citizenship, said the only way to conquer the terrorist threat was “for all member states to start working together. To foster mutual trust, exchange information and intelligence.” | Dimitris Avramopoulos, the EU commissioner for migration and citizenship, said the only way to conquer the terrorist threat was “for all member states to start working together. To foster mutual trust, exchange information and intelligence.” |
| The European Union’s justice and security ministers will convene for an extraordinary meeting in Brussels on Thursday. | The European Union’s justice and security ministers will convene for an extraordinary meeting in Brussels on Thursday. |
| A taxi driver, who came forward after recognising the men in the airport CCTV images as the three he had dropped off at the airport, led police to an apartment block in the district of Schaerbeek, where they discovered 15kg of explosives, chemicals, detonators, and a suitcase filled with nails and screws. | A taxi driver, who came forward after recognising the men in the airport CCTV images as the three he had dropped off at the airport, led police to an apartment block in the district of Schaerbeek, where they discovered 15kg of explosives, chemicals, detonators, and a suitcase filled with nails and screws. |
| Related: 'These are war wounds': Brussels hospitals treat terror attack victims | Related: 'These are war wounds': Brussels hospitals treat terror attack victims |
| Belgium’s DH newspaper reported that the attackers had ordered a minivan but were sent a saloon car, forcing them to leave behind one of their planned four suitcase bombs. | Belgium’s DH newspaper reported that the attackers had ordered a minivan but were sent a saloon car, forcing them to leave behind one of their planned four suitcase bombs. |
| Prof Sidney Allford, a leading explosives specialist, said the materials in the flat could have made about 50kg of the TATP explosive used in the Paris attacks – enough to make at least 10 large bombs. A series of other raids in the same street had led to two arrests, the prosecutor added, one of whom had since been released. | Prof Sidney Allford, a leading explosives specialist, said the materials in the flat could have made about 50kg of the TATP explosive used in the Paris attacks – enough to make at least 10 large bombs. A series of other raids in the same street had led to two arrests, the prosecutor added, one of whom had since been released. |
| Khalid el-Bakraoui had rented, under a false name, an apartment in the city’s Forest area where police hunting Abdeslam killed a gunman in a raid last week, and is also believed to have rented a safe house in the southern Belgian city of Charleroi used by more of the Paris cell before the November attacks. | Khalid el-Bakraoui had rented, under a false name, an apartment in the city’s Forest area where police hunting Abdeslam killed a gunman in a raid last week, and is also believed to have rented a safe house in the southern Belgian city of Charleroi used by more of the Paris cell before the November attacks. |
| The state broadcaster, RTBF, also reported that one of the brothers was thought to have provided ammunition and weapons for the Paris attacks. | The state broadcaster, RTBF, also reported that one of the brothers was thought to have provided ammunition and weapons for the Paris attacks. |
| Laachraoui, 24, reportedly travelled to Syria in 2013 and also went by an alias, Soufiane Kayal. His DNA was found in another apartment used by the Paris attackers, in the Belgian town of Namur, and also at Abdeslam’s hideout in Schaerbeek, where he stayed for three weeks after the Paris attacks. | Laachraoui, 24, reportedly travelled to Syria in 2013 and also went by an alias, Soufiane Kayal. His DNA was found in another apartment used by the Paris attackers, in the Belgian town of Namur, and also at Abdeslam’s hideout in Schaerbeek, where he stayed for three weeks after the Paris attacks. |
| Laachraoui was travelling with Abdeslam in September 2015 when their car was stopped crossing from Hungary into Austria. Also in the car was Mohammed Belkaid, who was shot dead by a police sniper in the Forest raid. | Laachraoui was travelling with Abdeslam in September 2015 when their car was stopped crossing from Hungary into Austria. Also in the car was Mohammed Belkaid, who was shot dead by a police sniper in the Forest raid. |
| Belgium raised its terror alert to its highest level in the aftermath of Tuesday’s attacks. The airport will remain closed until Thursday and the metro will be running a reduced service, but schools opened as normal on Wednesday. | Belgium raised its terror alert to its highest level in the aftermath of Tuesday’s attacks. The airport will remain closed until Thursday and the metro will be running a reduced service, but schools opened as normal on Wednesday. |
| Security experts have said Tuesday’s attacks were probably being prepared before Abdeslam’s capture following a shootout in Brussels last Friday. The 26-year-old French national, a childhood friend of the Paris cell’s ringleader, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, is suspected of buying materials, renting cars, booking rooms, scouting locations and moving people into place for the attacks. | Security experts have said Tuesday’s attacks were probably being prepared before Abdeslam’s capture following a shootout in Brussels last Friday. The 26-year-old French national, a childhood friend of the Paris cell’s ringleader, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, is suspected of buying materials, renting cars, booking rooms, scouting locations and moving people into place for the attacks. |
| It is not clear whether Abdeslam was involved in plans for the Brussels attacks, or whether accomplices brought the operation forward following his arrest – and fear of what he may tell investigators. | It is not clear whether Abdeslam was involved in plans for the Brussels attacks, or whether accomplices brought the operation forward following his arrest – and fear of what he may tell investigators. |