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| Brussels attacks: reports 'second metro bomber' seen on CCTV – live | Brussels attacks: reports 'second metro bomber' seen on CCTV – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 7.32am GMT | |
| 07:32 | |
| Attackers and suspects: what we know | |
| Claire Phipps | |
| The Bakraoui brothers | |
| 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”. | |
| 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. | |
| Najim Laachraoui | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| The third man at the airport | |
| Police continue to search for a man seen in CCTV images wearing a hat, sunglasses and light-coloured coat. He is believed to have fled the airport after his suitcase bomb failed to detonate. | |
| The ‘second metro bomber’ | |
| French newspaper Le Monde and Belgian broadcaster RTBF report that a second man, carrying a large bag, was seen on CCTV in the Brussels metro with Khalid el-Bakraoui. | |
| Le Monde says police are now searching for a potential second accomplice. | |
| 7.22am GMT | |
| 07:22 | |
| Angelique Chrisafis | |
| Angelique Chrisafis in Brussels writes: | |
| As the investigation continues, links are being examined to all suspects who have been arrested in connection to terrorism offences in recent months in Belgium, particularly those who were detained after raids relating to the Paris attacks. | |
| One key figure who was arrested in Belgium in the days following the Paris attacks in November is Mohamed Bakkali, 28. He was suspected of renting two of the Belgian hide-outs for the Paris attackers. | |
| During searches at Bakkali’s wife’s house in November, police found a 10-minute film shot by a fixed-camera hidden in a bush, which showed the home of a senior Belgian nuclear official in the Flanders region, and the official coming and going. | |
| Bakkali has been in prison since his arrest at the end of November. | |
| In a report that has not been confirmed by Belgian prosecutors, the Belgian state broadcaster RTBF said Bakkali’s name appeared in the will left on a computer thrown in a bin by the Brussels airport bomber Ibrahim el-Bakraoui. | |
| In this will, Bakraoui complained of feeling hunted and said he didn’t want to end up in a prison cell like another man, whom he did not name. | |
| Updated | |
| at 7.23am GMT | |
| 7.14am GMT | 7.14am GMT |
| 07:14 | 07:14 |
| Salah Abdeslam, the Paris attacker arrested in Brussels last week, who is known to have been linked to this week’s suicide bombers, is due in court this morning for a hearing. | Salah Abdeslam, the Paris attacker arrested in Brussels last week, who is known to have been linked to this week’s suicide bombers, is due in court this morning for a hearing. |
| More links between the Paris and Brussels attackers are emerging; here’s what we know so far: | More links between the Paris and Brussels attackers are emerging; here’s what we know so far: |
| Related: Suicide bombers in Brussels had known links to Paris attacks | Related: Suicide bombers in Brussels had known links to Paris attacks |
| 7.01am GMT | 7.01am GMT |
| 07:01 | 07:01 |
| Angelique Chrisafis | Angelique Chrisafis |
| Angelique Chrisafis in Brussels writes: | Angelique Chrisafis in Brussels writes: |
| Some 48 hours after the attacks, the police investigation in Brussels is focused on identifying and finding possible accomplices or other attackers. | Some 48 hours after the attacks, the police investigation in Brussels is focused on identifying and finding possible accomplices or other attackers. |
| France’s Le Monde and the Belgian broadcaster RTBF have reported that police are working to identify a man carrying a big bag who was filmed by CCTV cameras in the company of the metro suicide bomber Khalid el-Bakraoui just before Bakraoui blew himself up. | France’s Le Monde and the Belgian broadcaster RTBF have reported that police are working to identify a man carrying a big bag who was filmed by CCTV cameras in the company of the metro suicide bomber Khalid el-Bakraoui just before Bakraoui blew himself up. |
| RTBF reported that this man’s identity was not known, and it was not clear if he had died in the attack or had escaped. | RTBF reported that this man’s identity was not known, and it was not clear if he had died in the attack or had escaped. |
| 6.53am GMT | 6.53am GMT |
| 06:53 | 06:53 |
| Helen Davidson | Helen Davidson |
| European security chiefs will hold an emergency meeting in Brussels on Thursday in the wake of the twin terrorist attacks on the city. | European security chiefs will hold an emergency meeting in Brussels on Thursday in the wake of the twin terrorist attacks on the city. |
| Some world leaders have raised questions about the ease of access to Europe by terrorists, and criticised Belgium’s record of responding to the threat of terrorism before the deadly attacks in its capital. | Some world leaders have raised questions about the ease of access to Europe by terrorists, and criticised Belgium’s record of responding to the threat of terrorism before the deadly attacks in its capital. |
| Numerous European leaders have also voiced concern that “the future of Schengen is at stake” and that free movement between EU borders has weakened security. | Numerous European leaders have also voiced concern that “the future of Schengen is at stake” and that free movement between EU borders has weakened security. |
| The French prime minister, Manuel Valls, called for approval of a passenger name records directive requiring airlines to hand over passenger details to EU countries. | The French prime minister, Manuel Valls, called for approval of a passenger name records directive requiring airlines to hand over passenger details to EU countries. |
| The president of the European commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, called for a “security union” and said he hoped the EU would adopt proposals by the commission for the protection of external borders. | The president of the European commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, called for a “security union” and said he hoped the EU would adopt proposals by the commission for the protection of external borders. |
| Related: Brussels bombings: EU ministers meet as border controls criticised | Related: Brussels bombings: EU ministers meet as border controls criticised |
| 6.43am GMT | 6.43am GMT |
| 06:43 | 06:43 |
| RTBF also reports that a “will” found by police on a computer, apparently written by suicide bomber Ibraham el-Bakraoui, mentioned a man called Mohammed Bakkali. | RTBF also reports that a “will” found by police on a computer, apparently written by suicide bomber Ibraham el-Bakraoui, mentioned a man called Mohammed Bakkali. |
| Bakkali was arrested in November. He was said to be connected to an apartment in Auvelais, near the central Belgian city of Namur, that was used by the Paris attackers. | Bakkali was arrested in November. He was said to be connected to an apartment in Auvelais, near the central Belgian city of Namur, that was used by the Paris attackers. |
| RTBF speculates that it could be Bakkali – rather than captured Paris attacker Salah Abdeslam – to whom Bakraoui was referring when he said: | RTBF speculates that it could be Bakkali – rather than captured Paris attacker Salah Abdeslam – to whom Bakraoui was referring when he said: |
| If I go on like this [I] will end up in a prison cell next to him. | If I go on like this [I] will end up in a prison cell next to him. |
| 6.34am GMT | 6.34am GMT |
| 06:34 | 06:34 |
| Belgian broadcaster RTBF also reports that a second man was apparently seen in the metro with Khalid el-Bakraoui. It’s not clear what the source is for this information, and neither RTBF nor Le Monde have the images. | Belgian broadcaster RTBF also reports that a second man was apparently seen in the metro with Khalid el-Bakraoui. It’s not clear what the source is for this information, and neither RTBF nor Le Monde have the images. |
| 6.16am GMT | 6.16am GMT |
| 06:16 | 06:16 |
| ‘Second metro attacker’ – reports | ‘Second metro attacker’ – reports |
| French newspaper Le Monde reports that a second man, carrying a large bag, was seen on CCTV in the Brussels metro with Khalid el-Bakraoui, who authorities say carried out the suicide bombing at Maelbeek station. | French newspaper Le Monde reports that a second man, carrying a large bag, was seen on CCTV in the Brussels metro with Khalid el-Bakraoui, who authorities say carried out the suicide bombing at Maelbeek station. |
| Le Monde says police are now searching for a potential second accomplice – officials have said they are hunting for a suspect seen at Zaventem airport who is believed to have fled the scene without detonating his bomb. | Le Monde says police are now searching for a potential second accomplice – officials have said they are hunting for a suspect seen at Zaventem airport who is believed to have fled the scene without detonating his bomb. |
| This is the first mention of a second attacker in the metro bombing. The Guardian is not yet able to verify this report. | This is the first mention of a second attacker in the metro bombing. The Guardian is not yet able to verify this report. |
| 5.50am GMT | 5.50am GMT |
| 05:50 | 05:50 |
| Opening summary | Opening summary |
| Claire Phipps | Claire Phipps |
| Welcome to ongoing coverage of the aftermath of the terrorist strikes in Brussels that killed 31 people. | Welcome to ongoing coverage of the aftermath of the terrorist strikes in Brussels that killed 31 people. |
| European justice and security ministers will hold an emergency meeting in Brussels today to discuss the response to the terror threat. | European justice and security ministers will hold an emergency meeting in Brussels today to discuss the response to the terror threat. |
| Here are the latest developments: | Here are the latest developments: |
| Related: Agonising wait for news of missing loved ones after Brussels attacks | Related: Agonising wait for news of missing loved ones after Brussels attacks |