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/live/2016/mar/24/brussels-attacks-security-emergency-terror-talks-live
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 12 | Version 13 |
|---|---|
| Belgian ministers 'offered to resign' over Brussels attacks – live | Belgian ministers 'offered to resign' over Brussels attacks – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 1.28pm GMT | |
| 13:28 | |
| Angelique Chrisafis | |
| Angelique Chrisafis has more on Salah Abdeslam’s desire to be transferred to France “as soon as possible” to face charges there. | |
| Abdeslam has been been held in a high security jail since his dramatic arrest at a Brussels flat on Friday, four days before suicide bombers struck a Brussels airport and metro in the most devastating attacks in Belgian history. | |
| The 26-year-old, who before his capture was Europe’s most wanted man, had been on the run for four months after the November Paris attacks, which killed 130 people. He is believed to be the last survivor from the cell of 10 men who carried out the massacre. | |
| The ongoing investigation suggests Abdeslam and a wider circle of suspected logistics operatives in the Paris attacks could have had links to the suspects in theBrussels attacks. | |
| Abdeslam’s lawyer, Sven Mary, when asked if his client had prior knowledge about the Brussels suicide bombings, told journalists outside a Brussels court: “He didn’t know [about] it.” | |
| Related: Paris suspect Salah Abdeslam 'wants transfer to France ASAP' | |
| Updated | |
| at 1.29pm GMT | |
| 1.18pm GMT | |
| 13:18 | |
| Jennifer Rankin | |
| More than 48 hours after the Brussels attacks, the search for the missing continues, as friends and relatives frantically look for loved ones, writes Jennifer Rankin. | |
| According to the latest tally, 31 people lost their lives in Tuesday’s explosions at the airport and metro, and more than 300 were injured. Belgian media report that 150 remain in hospital, 61 in intensive care, while four people have not yet been unidentified. | |
| Reflecting Brussels international mix, people from around 40 countries were killed or injured in the attacks, a factor that is complicating final identifications. | |
| As Belgium marks a second day of national mourning, family and friends have taken to Facebook and Twitter to search for loved ones. | |
| Sabrina Esmael Fazal, 24, has not been seen since Tuesday and is thought to have taken the metro to school. “She must have taken the metro passing through Maalbeek at the moment of the disaster on her way to school,” states an appeal for help posted on Facebook. | |
| #PleaseRT Sabrina. Pas de nouvelles. merci de contacter Valérie Gérard.#AttaquesBruxelles #recherchebruxelles pic.twitter.com/KlxOOzgpmC | |
| On Thursday morning family and friends were still searching for Loubna Lafkiri, a gym teacher, also believed to have taken the metro. | |
| Loubna Lafquiri métro Maelbeek contacter au 0472/81.35.68 ou 0485/04.30.81 #recherchebruxelles #AttaquesBruxelles pic.twitter.com/XnpnLZCfoA | |
| Not far from Maelbeek metro station, is a notice appealing for any information about Johanna Atlegrim, aged 30, believed to have been on the metro during the attacks. | |
| #PleaseRT Johanna Altegrim 30 ans grande et longiligne Metro de Maelbeek. #AttaquesBruxelles #recherchebruxelles pic.twitter.com/shf1bwUTtg | |
| Family and friends are also searching for Polish national Janina Pansewicz, 61. | |
| Yves Ciyombo Cibuabua, 28, “was certainly at Maalbeek at the moment of the attacks”, his stepsister writes in a Facebook post. “We are still without news of him. We have tried everything.” | |
| #PleaseRT Yves cibuabua métro maelbeek 1m85 et 115 kg. Contact : 0484412822#AttaquesBruxelles #RechercheBruxelles pic.twitter.com/q02rJwoaVI | |
| 12.45pm GMT | 12.45pm GMT |
| 12:45 | 12:45 |
| Belgian ministers 'offered to resign' over the attacks | Belgian ministers 'offered to resign' over the attacks |
| Belgium’s interior and justice ministers offered their resignations over the Brussels attacks but they were rejected by Prime Minister Charles Michel, Reuters reports citing Belgian media. | Belgium’s interior and justice ministers offered their resignations over the Brussels attacks but they were rejected by Prime Minister Charles Michel, Reuters reports citing Belgian media. |
| Interior Minister Jan Jambon and Justice Minister Koen Geens were not immediately available for comment. | Interior Minister Jan Jambon and Justice Minister Koen Geens were not immediately available for comment. |
| Belgian authorities are facing embarrassment after Turkey said on Wednesday that last year Ankara expelled back to Europe Ibrahim El Bakraoui, one of the suicide bombers who carried out the attacks on Tuesday, and warned Belgium he was a militant. | Belgian authorities are facing embarrassment after Turkey said on Wednesday that last year Ankara expelled back to Europe Ibrahim El Bakraoui, one of the suicide bombers who carried out the attacks on Tuesday, and warned Belgium he was a militant. |
| “Belgium ignored our warning that this person is a foreign fighter,” President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday | “Belgium ignored our warning that this person is a foreign fighter,” President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday |
| #Alerte Jan Jambon a présenté sa démission, Charles Michel l’aurait refusée https://t.co/GvQgl5fIno pic.twitter.com/I88UeqEzAZ | #Alerte Jan Jambon a présenté sa démission, Charles Michel l’aurait refusée https://t.co/GvQgl5fIno pic.twitter.com/I88UeqEzAZ |
| Koen Geens, ministre de la Justice, a présenté sa démission, Charles Michel l'a refusée https://t.co/GvQgl5fIno pic.twitter.com/19Oolbxeem | Koen Geens, ministre de la Justice, a présenté sa démission, Charles Michel l'a refusée https://t.co/GvQgl5fIno pic.twitter.com/19Oolbxeem |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.52pm GMT | at 12.52pm GMT |
| 12.21pm GMT | 12.21pm GMT |
| 12:21 | 12:21 |
| A fourth possible victim of the Brussels terrorist attack has been named as 51-year-old baggage handler Fabienne Vansteenkiste, writes Isabel Togoh. | A fourth possible victim of the Brussels terrorist attack has been named as 51-year-old baggage handler Fabienne Vansteenkiste, writes Isabel Togoh. |
| Sky News cites local media reports saying that Vansteenkiste had finished her shift at the airport when the two bombs exploded. Her family says it is “realistic” about the situation, Sky said. | Sky News cites local media reports saying that Vansteenkiste had finished her shift at the airport when the two bombs exploded. Her family says it is “realistic” about the situation, Sky said. |
| Vansteenkiste is still listed as missing on a website set up to track those caught up in the attacks. | Vansteenkiste is still listed as missing on a website set up to track those caught up in the attacks. |
| Fabienne Vansteenkiste .Contact : Thomas Savary et Laurens Van Calster#AttaquesBruxelles #recherchebruxelles pic.twitter.com/8tj90u0ZyV | Fabienne Vansteenkiste .Contact : Thomas Savary et Laurens Van Calster#AttaquesBruxelles #recherchebruxelles pic.twitter.com/8tj90u0ZyV |
| 12.07pm GMT | 12.07pm GMT |
| 12:07 | 12:07 |
| “A number” of US remain unaccounted for including government employees, the US state department has said. | “A number” of US remain unaccounted for including government employees, the US state department has said. |
| Deputy spokesman Mark Toner said no US citizens are known to have been killed but the situation remains “very fluid”. He added that there were growing fears about those who have not been heard from. And he confirmed that 12 US citizens were injured in the attacks. | Deputy spokesman Mark Toner said no US citizens are known to have been killed but the situation remains “very fluid”. He added that there were growing fears about those who have not been heard from. And he confirmed that 12 US citizens were injured in the attacks. |
| Toner told reporters that there were so many US citizens either working in or visiting Belgium that it was impossible to give an accurate figure for the number unaccounted for. | Toner told reporters that there were so many US citizens either working in or visiting Belgium that it was impossible to give an accurate figure for the number unaccounted for. |
| He said: “We try to go through that list to try and identify the whereabouts of folks but we’re constantly adding to that list as loved ones or family call in to say that they haven’t reached or been able to contact someone.” | He said: “We try to go through that list to try and identify the whereabouts of folks but we’re constantly adding to that list as loved ones or family call in to say that they haven’t reached or been able to contact someone.” |
| He added that US government personnel or their family members are among those unaccounted for. | He added that US government personnel or their family members are among those unaccounted for. |
| The US secretary of state John Kerry is due in Brussels tomorrow to “formally express the condolences of the United States for the loss of life” and discuss security with Belgian and EU officials. | The US secretary of state John Kerry is due in Brussels tomorrow to “formally express the condolences of the United States for the loss of life” and discuss security with Belgian and EU officials. |
| 12.02pm GMT | 12.02pm GMT |
| 12:02 | 12:02 |
| Here’s a summary of the latest developments: | Here’s a summary of the latest developments: |
| 11.44am GMT | 11.44am GMT |
| 11:44 | 11:44 |
| Downing Street said the number of UK citizens now known to have been injured in the attack is six, four of whom have been discharged from hospital, PA reports. | Downing Street said the number of UK citizens now known to have been injured in the attack is six, four of whom have been discharged from hospital, PA reports. |
| The other two are still receiving treatment though the spokeswoman said she was unable to give any information about their conditions. | The other two are still receiving treatment though the spokeswoman said she was unable to give any information about their conditions. |
| She said there were “stills concerns” about one unaccounted for British national - a reference to David Dixon, 53, originally from Hartlepool but living in Brussels. | She said there were “stills concerns” about one unaccounted for British national - a reference to David Dixon, 53, originally from Hartlepool but living in Brussels. |
| He sent a message to his family telling them he was okay after the airport attacks - but has not been seen since the explosion ripped through the Metro an hour later. | He sent a message to his family telling them he was okay after the airport attacks - but has not been seen since the explosion ripped through the Metro an hour later. |
| Downing Street said a British police expert in victim identification is being sent to Belgium as part of a package of support being provided by the UK. | Downing Street said a British police expert in victim identification is being sent to Belgium as part of a package of support being provided by the UK. |
| Another meeting of the Government’s Cobra emergency committee took place on Thursday. | Another meeting of the Government’s Cobra emergency committee took place on Thursday. |
| 11.41am GMT | 11.41am GMT |
| 11:41 | 11:41 |
| Belgian government ministers have been meeting this morning to review what it knew about Ibrahim el-Bakraoui before he blew himself up at the airport, state broadcaster RTBF reports. | Belgian government ministers have been meeting this morning to review what it knew about Ibrahim el-Bakraoui before he blew himself up at the airport, state broadcaster RTBF reports. |
| The meeting comes after Turkey said it had informed Brussels that Bakraoui had been deported to the Netherlands. | The meeting comes after Turkey said it had informed Brussels that Bakraoui had been deported to the Netherlands. |
| Bakraoui was released on parole in Belgium for criminal acts not related to terrorism. | Bakraoui was released on parole in Belgium for criminal acts not related to terrorism. |
| 11.27am GMT | 11.27am GMT |
| 11:27 | 11:27 |
| Haroon Siddique | Haroon Siddique |
| Two Moroccan women died in the attacks and three other people are missing, including a university professor, according to the Moroccan Times, writes Haroon Siddique and Isabel Togoh. | Two Moroccan women died in the attacks and three other people are missing, including a university professor, according to the Moroccan Times, writes Haroon Siddique and Isabel Togoh. |
| It said another four Moroccans were injured. The Times did not name any of the dead, missing or injured. | It said another four Moroccans were injured. The Times did not name any of the dead, missing or injured. |
| It cited the Moroccan embassy in Brussels as the source of its information but when the Guardian contacted the embassy it said it did not have any information on Moroccan victims of the atrocity. | It cited the Moroccan embassy in Brussels as the source of its information but when the Guardian contacted the embassy it said it did not have any information on Moroccan victims of the atrocity. |
| The number of Moroccans in Belgium has been put at between 400,000 and 500,000. | The number of Moroccans in Belgium has been put at between 400,000 and 500,000. |
| 11.20am GMT | 11.20am GMT |
| 11:20 | 11:20 |
| A Turkish official has told Reuters that Ibrahim el-Bakraoui, who blew himself up at Brussels airport, was deported from Turkey a second time last year. | A Turkish official has told Reuters that Ibrahim el-Bakraoui, who blew himself up at Brussels airport, was deported from Turkey a second time last year. |
| Last night Turkey’s prime minster Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Bakraoui was caught in Turkey in June 2015, and deported to the Netherlands. | Last night Turkey’s prime minster Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Bakraoui was caught in Turkey in June 2015, and deported to the Netherlands. |
| He said Turkey reported the deportation to the Belgian authorities in July 2015 adding that Belgium “ignored” Turkey’s warning that the attacker was a militant. | He said Turkey reported the deportation to the Belgian authorities in July 2015 adding that Belgium “ignored” Turkey’s warning that the attacker was a militant. |
| Now an official has told Reuters Bakraoui travelled back to Turkey and was deported again in August. | Now an official has told Reuters Bakraoui travelled back to Turkey and was deported again in August. |
| The official said Bakraoui was deported on police suspicion that he was a foreign fighter, but no crime was committed in Turkey. | The official said Bakraoui was deported on police suspicion that he was a foreign fighter, but no crime was committed in Turkey. |
| Turkish police released a photograph of Bakraoui that was taken last July in Turkey. | Turkish police released a photograph of Bakraoui that was taken last July in Turkey. |