This article is from the source 'washpo' 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 https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/hunt-for-cell-behind-islamic-state-attacks-extends-across-europe/2016/03/27/59acfc5a-f39a-11e5-a2a3-d4e9697917d1_story.html

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Probe into Brussels bombings expands across Europe Probe into Brussels bombings expands across Europe
(about 4 hours later)
BRUSSELS — The investigation into last week’s deadly attacks in Brussels extended farther across Europe on Sunday after Italian police arrested a new suspect thought to have helped Islamic State militants slip into Western Europe unnoticed. BRUSSELS — The investigation into last week’s bombings in Brussels extended farther across Europe on Sunday, after Italian police arrested a new suspect thought to have provided false documents to the Islamic State militants behind recent attacks here and in Paris.
Italian authorities said late Saturday that they had captured an Algerian man suspected of providing several Islamic State supporters with false identification documents, allowing them to evade authorities as they plotted attacks in Belgium and France. The latest arrest adds to an emerging picture of the network that staged some of the worst attacks on European soil since World War II, another striking indication of the reach of the Islamic State beyond its strongholds in Iraq and Syria.
“The Algerian arrested today in Salerno is part of a network of forgers of residency” documents, police said in a message on Twitter. Fears remained heightened across the continent nearly a week after suicide bombers killed at least 31 people at Brussels Airport and, an hour later, in a crowded subway car. Tuesday’s assaults shed new light not only on the shortcomings of European security agencies but on the militants’ determination to launch attacks.
The arrest added to an emerging picture of the network behind the worst attack on Belgian soil since World War II and is another striking indication of the growing reach of the Islamic State beyond its strongholds in Iraq and Syria. In St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, worshipers were subject to tight security Sunday as they flocked to hear Pope Francis deliver his Easter address. Speaking to the crowed, the pope called terrorism a “blind and brutal form of violence,” according to the Associated Press.
According to the Italian news agency ANSA, 40-year-old Djamal Eddine Ouali had been the subject of a Belgian arrest warrant since January. ANSA said he was suspected to have given the falsified papers to Salah Abdeslam, a suspected member of the cell that carried out the Nov. 13 Paris attacks, who is now in Belgian custody. Ouali is also believed to have furnished documents to Najim Laachraoui, suspected to have been one of the suicide bombers at the Brussels airport on Tuesday, and another man killed by Belgian authorities in a raid this month. In central Brussels, widespread anxiety was visible as riot police with shields and white helmets fanned out around a memorial site for victims Sunday afternoon. Police briefly fired water cannons after several hundred men dressed in black, apparently soccer fans, advanced into the area. The fans waved a giant banner against the Islamic State and, according to some media reports, shouted nationalist slogans.
The attackers killed at least 28 people on Tuesday at Brussels Airport and, an hour later, in a crowded subway car. One of the participants, who identified himself only as Steve, said the fans were not protesting against immigrants or Muslims. He said they had hoped only to show their condemnation of terrorists and of government failures to deal with such threats.
In Belgium, another suspect linked to the attacks was charged, local media reported Sunday. The man, identified as Abderrahmane A., has been in custody since Friday and faces charges of belonging to a terrorist organization “We are people who are just united against the [expletive] happening to this country,” he said by phone later in the day.
Belgian police did not provide additional details on Sunday, as they expanded their hunt for new clues. Authorities conducted 13 searches in Brussels and other areas on Sunday, the federal prosecutor’s office said. Four people remain in custody.
The growing charge list may help ease tensions that were visible on Sunday even as Belgium, a largely Catholic country, marked Easter Sunday.
[VIDEO: Protestors disrupt memorial to bombing victims][VIDEO: Protestors disrupt memorial to bombing victims]
In a sign of the nervousness, riot police were deployed around a memorial site in the center of Brussels on Sunday afternoon after several hundred men dressed in black poured into the area. The men, apparently soccer fans, disrupted a mostly quiet vigil and began shouting slogans against the Islamic State and, according to some media reports, immigrants. The crowd later dispersed. Government officials urged organizers to postpone a solidarity rally planned for Sunday, saying that police could not provide adequate security.
Authorities had hoped to avoid this kind of alarm when they urged organizers to postpone a solidarity rally planned for Sunday, acknowledging that police could not provide adequate security. Belgian authorities meanwhile expanded their hunt for new clues. They conducted 13 searches in Brussels and other areas Sunday, the federal prosecutor’s office said. Four people remain in custody.
Across the continent, fears of renewed attacks remain elevated. In St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, worshipers were subject to tight security as they flocked to hear Pope Francis deliver his Easter address. Speaking to the crowed, the pope labeled terrorism a “blind and brutal form of violence,” according to the Associated Press. Prosecutors also charged another suspect linked to the attacks, local media reported Sunday. The man, identified as Abderrahmane A., has been in custody since Friday and faces charges of belonging to a terrorist organization. Belgian police did not provide additional details.
In Iraq and Syria, the Islamic State remains defiant even as it faces pressure from the United States and its allies from the air and from forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on the ground. On Saturday, Syria claimed to have recaptured the historic city of Palmyra, under Islamic State control for months. The man that Italian authorities captured Saturday was an Algerian suspected of providing several Islamic State supporters with false identification documents, allowing them to evade authorities as they plotted attacks in Belgium and France.
“The Algerian arrested today in Salerno is part of a network of forgers of residency” documents, police said in a message on Twitter on Saturday.
According to the Italian news agency ANSA, 40-year-old Djamal Eddine Ouali had been the subject of a Belgian arrest warrant since January. ANSA said he was suspected to have given falsified papers to Salah Abdeslam, a suspected member of the cell that carried out the Nov. 13 Paris attacks, who is now in Belgian custody. Ouali is also believed to have furnished documents to Najim Laachraoui, suspected to have been one of the suicide bombers at Brussels Airport, and to another man killed by Belgian authorities in a raid this month.
[Security forces missed chances before the Brussels attacks][Security forces missed chances before the Brussels attacks]
Over the weekend, militants continued to celebrate attacks that they said had demonstrated the weakness of Western defenses. In a video released Saturday, a Dutch-speaking fighter, identified as Abu Hanifa al-Beljiki, addressed the government of Belgium. The new steps in the investigation come as Belgian authorities seek to beat back criticism of their handling of terrorism threats.
“You learned nothing from the lessons of Paris, because you continued fighting Islam and the Muslims,” he said, according to a transcript from the SITE Intelligence Group. “For this I want to tell you that the attack in Brussels is reaping what you had sown with your own hands.” Investigators acknowledged late last week that they did not question Abdeslam extensively after his March 18 arrest, possibly missing clues that may have helped them avert the attacks four days later.
The video followed Belgian authorities’ announcement Saturday that they may have found the most-wanted remaining suspect in Tuesday’s attacks. It was a welcome development for the government in Brussels, facing widespread criticism over its failure to chase down leads that might have helped prevent the attacks. On Sunday, Interior Minister Jan Jambon defended to local media the government’s decision-making during last week’s attacks. He has come under fire for failing to protect other Brussels residents after the initial attack at the airport.
That criticism made the weekend announcement that authorities may have captured the most-wanted remaining suspect from Tuesday’s attacks even more welcome news.
[The Islamic State is on the retreat on multiple fronts][The Islamic State is on the retreat on multiple fronts]
According to a European security official, the man is Fayçal Cheffou, whose explosives-laden suitcase apparently did not detonate. According to a European security official, the man is Fayçal Cheffou, whose is suspected to be the third at attacker at Brussels Airport and whose explosives-laden suitcase apparently did not detonate.
The man, whom Belgian officials have not fully identified, was charged Saturday with “participation in the activities of a terrorist group, terrorist murders and attempted terrorist murders.”The man, whom Belgian officials have not fully identified, was charged Saturday with “participation in the activities of a terrorist group, terrorist murders and attempted terrorist murders.”
According to Belgian media, Cheffou has identified himself as a journalist in the past and has promoted radical Islamist beliefs. According to Belgian media, Cheffou has described himself as a journalist in the past and has promoted radical Islamist beliefs.
Belgian authorities also have charged a man identified as “Rabah N.” with taking part in a terrorist group and another man, identified as “Aboubakar A.,” with a terrorism-related offense.Belgian authorities also have charged a man identified as “Rabah N.” with taking part in a terrorist group and another man, identified as “Aboubakar A.,” with a terrorism-related offense.
Belgian media has reported that Abderrahmane Ameroud, presumably the same person as the one charged on Sunday, is another person linked to the attacks. France sentenced the Algerian to seven years for recruiting fighters for Afghanistan. The case was tied to the 2001 assassination of Ahmed Shah Massoud, the legendary Afghan guerrilla leader. The latest person to be charged may be Abderrahmane Ameroud, whom Belgian media has reported as linked to the attacks. Ameroud was sentenced by a French court to seven years in prison for involvement in a plot to assassinate Ahmed Shah Massoud, the legendary Afghan guerrilla leader. Massoud was killed in 2001.
It is not known what exactly each person is suspected to have done.It is not known what exactly each person is suspected to have done.
The new charges come as Belgian authorities admit missteps in their handling of terrorism investigations.
Investigators acknowledged late last week that they did not question Abdeslam extensively after his March 18 arrest, possibly missing clues that might have helped them avert the disaster four days later.
[Families still in desperate wait for news after attacks][Families still in desperate wait for news after attacks]
On Sunday, Interior Minister Jan Jambon defended to local media the government’s decision-making during last week’s attacks. He has come under fire for failing to protect Brussels after the initial attack at the airport. Over the weekend, militants continued to celebrate attacks that they said demonstrated the weakness of Western defenses. In a video released Saturday, a Dutch-speaking fighter, identified as Abu Hanifa al-Beljiki, addressed the government of Belgium.
“You learned nothing from the lessons of Paris, because you continued fighting Islam and the Muslims,” he said, according to a transcript from the SITE Intelligence Group. “For this I want to tell you that the attack in Brussels is reaping what you had sown with your own hands.”
More than 300 people were wounded in the attacks, Belgian officials have said. Nearly half of the victims were foreign nationals, including at least two Americans. According to Belgium’s Foreign Ministry, not all of those wounded have been identified because some of them remain in a coma.More than 300 people were wounded in the attacks, Belgian officials have said. Nearly half of the victims were foreign nationals, including at least two Americans. According to Belgium’s Foreign Ministry, not all of those wounded have been identified because some of them remain in a coma.
Annabell Van den Berghe contributed to this report.Annabell Van den Berghe contributed to this report.
Read more:Read more:
Anti-terrorism crackdowns may have spurred attackers, Belgian prosecutor saysAnti-terrorism crackdowns may have spurred attackers, Belgian prosecutor says
The many missing pieces in the Brussels attacks investigationThe many missing pieces in the Brussels attacks investigation
New ISIS recruits have deep criminal rootsNew ISIS recruits have deep criminal roots