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Suspects identified in Brussels terrorist attacks
The death toll of yesterday morning’s terrorist attacks at Brussels Airport and in Maelbeek metro station now stands at 31. Brussels-City mayor Yvan Mayeur has confirmed that there are 20 dead and 106 injured following the bomb explosion in a metro train at Maelbeek station. According to federal health minister Maggie De Block, the confirmed number of dead from the double airport explosions stands at 11 dead and 154 injured. The total is three fewer deaths than were reported yesterday.
Doctors treating the wounded said at least one nail bomb had been used in the attack at the airport in Zaventem, judging from shrapnel found in the wounds of those injured.
The first victim to be identified is a 37-year-old woman from Peru, who lived in Tubize with her Belgian husband and twin daughters. The rest of the family was present at the airport but survived the attacks. One of the girls was treated for shrapnel injuries. America’s FBI service is sending a delegation to Brussels to investigate the deaths of Americans in the attacks.
House searches were carried out across the country yesterday in the aftermath of the attacks. Police discovered a nail bomb, chemical products and an IS flag at an address in Schaerbeek.
Police have issued security camera photographs of three suspects, one unknown and the other two identified as brothers Khalid and Brahim El Bakraoui, both of whom blew themselves up. The third man is at large. It has been reported that Khalid had rented an apartment on Rue de Dries in the Forest municipality of Brussels under a false name.
The airport remains closed today and could be closed for several more days, said airport authorities. Passengers have been advised to contact their airline for further information about their flights.
Brussels’ metro system is still severely affected today, with lines 1 and 5 only partly open and 2 and 6 closed down completely. A shuttle bus between Simonis and Gare de l'Ouest is serving stops at Beekkant, Etangs Noirs, Autrique and Van Huffel. The rest of Brussels transport is operating normally.
Several train station in Brussels are closed, but the three main stations are open, and international traffic such as Thalys and Eurostar are running. There are some cancellations and delays.
Photo: Ye Pingfan/Xinhua Press/Corbis
Comments
Trains and public transportation are open again... airport is closed.
But what extra security measures are going to be taken?
metal detectors in the entrance of the airport building and big stations and not only after check in?
special agents or soldiers in every main public place? (and please, not only in central station or in la grand place)
ALL the police on the streets, schools, universities, etc.. with their eyes and ears wide open; at least will give us a sense of protection.
reinforcement of the intelligence?
for once a simple coordination between different countries police/intelligence in Europe?
ask for help to other countries with more experience in fight against terrorism, like France or Spain?
the death toll is too high, but is it going to be enough to learn and start making the difference? or we will just blame the foreigners, Muslims or refugees?
Are we going to think about the causes of all this new terrorism? what did our governments do in the invasions of Iraq, Afghanistan, etc 10 years ago...
How many millions are our companies earning selling weapons to the middle east conflicts...
The common people, the one that is always beaten, should start thinking, realizing and demanding to the government actions to solve the wars and improve the security in our streets, and not only increase the bombings in Siria/Iraq or restrict rights (as they did in the past).
Again, my condemns to the attackers and my condolences to the victims.
And if it is true that Turkey deported Ibrahim El Bakraoui (one of the suicides at the airport) last year stating that he was a dangerous terrorist, and he was let free and with no one spying, following and registering his movements... this would be again unacceptable and somebody would have to resign.