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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) | |
| 9.35am GMT | |
| 09:35 | |
| Reuters has more on Abdeslam’s apparent desire to return to France. | |
| Salah Abdeslam, the prime surviving suspect for November’s Paris attacks, will no longer fight extradition to France but wants to return to his home country to explain himself as soon as possible, his lawyer said on Thursday. | |
| “Salah Abdeslam has asked me to inform you that he wishes to leave for France as quickly as possible,” Sven Mary said in comments broadcast on BFM TV, speaking from Brussels. | |
| Mary said he hoped this could happen “as soon as possible”, adding that Abdeslam “wants to explain himself in France”. | |
| Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said last week that at worst it could take three months for Abdeslam to be handed over to France after he said he would oppose extradition to his homeland. | |
| 9.33am GMT | |
| 09:33 | |
| Angelique Chrisafis | |
| Outside the Brussels Palais de Justice there was a huge security presence with army and armed police ahead of Salah Abdeslam’s extradition hearing, writes Angelique Chrisafis. | |
| Abdelsam’s lawyer Sven Mary is currently inside at a meeting with Belgian magistrates in a pre-scheduled hearing to discuss whether to keep the Paris attack suspect in detention. | |
| Abdeslam is not thought to be in the court. He has been held in a high security prison near Bruges. Mary had said earlier that he would ask for a full hearing to be postponed. | |
| Mary was attacked last night, according to Le Soir. “I had to close my office to ensure the safety of my staff ,” he told the paper. | |
| 9.22am GMT | |
| 09:22 | |
| London landmarks were lit up in the colours of Belgian flag last night in tribute to the victims of the attacks. | |
| 9.19am GMT | |
| 09:19 | |
| Salah Abdeslam, the surviving member of the Paris attacks, wants to be extradited to France “as quickly as possible” his lawyer has said, according to the French broadcaster BFM TV. | |
| Abdeslam was captured in Brussels last Friday after four months on the run. | |
| A Belgian judge is to due decide today whether he should be held in custody for another month. France is seeking his extradition to face terrorism charges. | |
| 8.55am GMT | 8.55am GMT |
| 08:55 | 08:55 |
| Matthew Weaver | Matthew Weaver |
| Europol warns of new ‘aggressive’ strategy by Isis | Europol warns of new ‘aggressive’ strategy by Isis |
| The EU’s law enforcement agency Europol has warned that Brussels attacks shows that a network of at least 5,000 terrorists suspects is more dangerous than previously feared. | The EU’s law enforcement agency Europol has warned that Brussels attacks shows that a network of at least 5,000 terrorists suspects is more dangerous than previously feared. |
| Rob Wainwright, the head of Europol, confirmed the connection of the Brussels bombers to November’s attacks in Paris and warned of new “aggressive” strategy by Islamic State [Isis] militants to attack Europe. | Rob Wainwright, the head of Europol, confirmed the connection of the Brussels bombers to November’s attacks in Paris and warned of new “aggressive” strategy by Islamic State [Isis] militants to attack Europe. |
| “We are concerned about the extent to which we are now uncovering a more widespread network than was first feared,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. | “We are concerned about the extent to which we are now uncovering a more widespread network than was first feared,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. |
| Wainwright said he could not talk in public about the identity of the man seen in CCTV footage at Brussels airport dressed in a white jacket. | Wainwright said he could not talk in public about the identity of the man seen in CCTV footage at Brussels airport dressed in a white jacket. |
| But he said: “We are faced by a more dangerous, a more urgent security threat from so-called Islamic State. It threatens not just France and Belgium but a number of European countries at the same time ... It is certainly the most serious threat we have faced in at least a decade.” | But he said: “We are faced by a more dangerous, a more urgent security threat from so-called Islamic State. It threatens not just France and Belgium but a number of European countries at the same time ... It is certainly the most serious threat we have faced in at least a decade.” |
| Wainwright said the “innovative use of the internet to radicalise and recruit larger sections of the populations” by Isis militants posed an “unprecedented threat”. | Wainwright said the “innovative use of the internet to radicalise and recruit larger sections of the populations” by Isis militants posed an “unprecedented threat”. |
| He said: “The nature of the threat, the way it is dispersed across a largely unconnected randomised community of a least 5,000 individuals means it is not possible to reduce the threat to zero. So we have to redouble our efforts.” | He said: “The nature of the threat, the way it is dispersed across a largely unconnected randomised community of a least 5,000 individuals means it is not possible to reduce the threat to zero. So we have to redouble our efforts.” |
| Wainwright is due to attend today’s meeting of interior ministers in Brussels to discuss better ways of sharing intelligence in different countries. | Wainwright is due to attend today’s meeting of interior ministers in Brussels to discuss better ways of sharing intelligence in different countries. |
| He added: “It is difficult to know how many [militants] are on active duty in preparing to launch attacks in Europe, but we are concerned about a community of 5,000 suspects that have been radicalised in Europe, that have travelled to Syria and Iraq for conflict experience, some of whom have since come back to Europe. And some of those will be among those that are taking part in what is clearly a new strategy that so-called Islamic State have launched in the west to take us on, in a more aggressive way to use teams of well-trained, well-planned terrorists to carry out multi attacks aimed at mass causalities.” | He added: “It is difficult to know how many [militants] are on active duty in preparing to launch attacks in Europe, but we are concerned about a community of 5,000 suspects that have been radicalised in Europe, that have travelled to Syria and Iraq for conflict experience, some of whom have since come back to Europe. And some of those will be among those that are taking part in what is clearly a new strategy that so-called Islamic State have launched in the west to take us on, in a more aggressive way to use teams of well-trained, well-planned terrorists to carry out multi attacks aimed at mass causalities.” |
| 8.21am GMT | 8.21am GMT |
| 08:21 | 08:21 |
| Henry McDonald | Henry McDonald |
| Henry McDonald reports from Dublin on increased security at Ireland’s main airport and port. | Henry McDonald reports from Dublin on increased security at Ireland’s main airport and port. |
| Armed Irish police are to be deployed for the first time at the Republic’s major airport and Dublin Port, in response to the attacks in Brussels. | Armed Irish police are to be deployed for the first time at the Republic’s major airport and Dublin Port, in response to the attacks in Brussels. |
| Armed officers from the Garda Siochana’s Regional Support Unit will have a presence at Dublin airport and the city’s main ferry port. | Armed officers from the Garda Siochana’s Regional Support Unit will have a presence at Dublin airport and the city’s main ferry port. |
| Up until Tuesday’s atrocity in Belgium there was no armed Garda presence at either the airport or the port in the Irish capital. | Up until Tuesday’s atrocity in Belgium there was no armed Garda presence at either the airport or the port in the Irish capital. |
| The armed unit has already been seen on Dublin’s streets in the aftermath of the eruption of a major gangland feud between two notorious rival Irish criminals, which last night claimed its third life. | The armed unit has already been seen on Dublin’s streets in the aftermath of the eruption of a major gangland feud between two notorious rival Irish criminals, which last night claimed its third life. |
| Although the Irish Republic is neutral and has never been a member of Nato, there is considerable controversy over the use of the country’s second airport Shannon by the US military as a transport hub for its personnel from North America to Europe and beyond. | Although the Irish Republic is neutral and has never been a member of Nato, there is considerable controversy over the use of the country’s second airport Shannon by the US military as a transport hub for its personnel from North America to Europe and beyond. |
| 7.32am GMT | 7.32am GMT |
| 07:32 | 07:32 |
| Attackers and suspects: what we know | Attackers and suspects: what we know |
| Claire Phipps | Claire Phipps |
| The Bakraoui brothers | 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. | 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. |
| Najim Laachraoui | Najim Laachraoui |
| 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. | 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 | 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. | 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’ | 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. | 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. | Le Monde says police are now searching for a potential second accomplice. |
| 7.22am GMT | 7.22am GMT |
| 07:22 | 07:22 |
| Angelique Chrisafis | Angelique Chrisafis |
| Angelique Chrisafis in Brussels writes: | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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 | Updated |
| at 7.23am GMT | 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 |