Brussels terror attacks: man arrested as police source names El Bakraoui brothers bombers
Both brothers have a criminal records, but have not been linked by the police to terrorism until now
The identities of the Brussels bombers is becoming clearer after three blasts – two at the airport and one in the metro train system – killed 34 and wounded more than 100.
An image of three men walking through the terminal building at the airport which was to suffer two massive explosions was released. The man in the middle wearing dark clothes are reported to be Khalid and Ibrahim El Bakraoui, the man dressed in lighter clothes is believed to be Najim Laachraoui, according to a police source quoted in Belgian media.
The El-Bakraoui brothers are considered the suicide bombers who blew themselves up in Brussels. They were being sought for links with Salah Abdeslam, the prime suspect in the Paris attacks, RTBF television reported Wednesday, citing police sources.
RTBF named the two as Khalid and Ibrahim El Bakraoui, saying Khalid last week rented an apartment in Brussels under a false name where police found Abdeslam’s fingerprints after a raid.
Police arrested Abdeslam, Europe’s most wanted man, in a dramatic operation in Brussels on Friday that had been hailed as a “victory” in Belgium’s campaign against terrorism.
Khalid is also linked to renting an apartment in the southern Belgian city of Charleroi from where Abdeslam and the other Brussels-based Islamic State jihadists set off to carry out the November 13 Paris attacks which left 130 people dead.
Other reports Wednesday said one of the brothers, who they did not name, could have been involved in the separate attack Tuesday on the Brussels metro station of Maalbeek, which left about 20 dead.
Belgian police earlier Wednesday issued an appeal for information about the two men believed to have blown themselves up at the airport.
The police posted several tweets with the caption “Terrorism: who knows this man?”, showing CCTV close-ups of two men pushing trolleys with suitcases through the airport departure hall.
They gave three slightly different images for each of the two men who the federal prosecutor said Tuesday had likely blown themselves up in the attack.
A third man, dressed in a light coloured jacket and wearing a dark hat, who was shown with the two others in a CCTV grab issued Tuesday, is believed to have fled the scene and is now the subject of a massive manhunt.
It was reported earlier that Laachraoui was arrested in the south-western Brussels suburb of Anderlicht, but it is now unclear who was arrested.
What we know about Tuesday’s terror attacks in Brussels:
There were three explosions
Two explosions occurred during morning rush hour Tuesday at the airport in Zaventem and one at a downtown metro station near European Union buildings. Belgium’s federal prosecutor confirmed the blasts were terrorist attacks. Authorities raised Belgium’s terror threat to its maximum level. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the terror attacks, according to SITE Intelligence Group.
Death, injury toll is rising
The Belgian government confirmed 34 dead in the attacks. Belgium’s federal health minister, Maggie De Block, said the explosions at the airport killed 11 people and injured 81. Brussels Mayor Yvan Majeur put the subway death toll at 20, with more than 100 injured there.
First Boston, now Brussels ... meet the teenager who survived two deadly terror bombings
President Obama addresses attacks from Cuba
President Obama addressed the Brussels attacks Tuesday morning at the beginning of his long-awaited speech to the Cuban people at the National Theater of Havana.
“We will do whatever is necessary to support our friend and ally Belgium in bringing justice to those who are responsible,” Obama said.
He said the world must stand united “regardless of nationality, or race, or faith, in fighting against the scourge of terrorism.”
Travel information
By late Tuesday, some Brussels’ train stations began reopening. High-speed rail services are also restarting, as Eurostar services resumed.
Security ramps up in New York, D.C., Chicago
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch was briefed on the Brussels attacks early Tuesday and was coordinating how the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies could provide assistance to Brussels authorities. The New York Police Department, meanwhile, was ramping up security at major transportation centres, similar to actions taken following the assaults in Paris. Security was also tightened in Washington, D.C., and Chicago. There were no indications of specific threats against U.S. targets, authorities said.
Several US airlines also cancelled flights to and from Brussels.
Witness describes the scene
Incident follows the arrest of the Paris terror suspect
Salah Abdeslam, the main fugitive from November’s Paris terror attack, was arrested Friday along with two other suspects in a raid on an apartment in a Brussels suburb. A federal law enforcement official, who is not authorised to comment publicly, said that based on the coordinated nature of the attacks it was likely that the assaults had been long planned but were accelerated following last week’s arrest.
Safety check in place
Facebook activated its safety check, where you can find and connect with friends and family in the affected area.
#JeSuisBrussels messages flood social media
#JeSuisBruxelles and #JeSuisBrussels were trending on Twitter in a sign of solidarity with victims. The hashtag, which means “I am Brussels,” was trending worldwide. Others used the hashtags #PrayforBelgum and #PrayForPeace to offer their condolences.
