- Subsequent raids in the aftermath of Brussels attack discovered ‘alarming’ evidence that showed the wide extent of the terrorist network
- Three more suspects were detained on Thursday including the ‘man in white jacket’ who appeared with the suicide bombers in a security footage
- Authorities said 24 of the 28 victims have already been identified
A jihadist cell extending to the whole European continent was reportedly uncovered in the subsequent raids following the deadly attack in Brussels, Belgium last week that killed 31 people including three suicide bombers.
The tensed environment in the aftermath of the attack has prompted the Belgian government to raise its security alert to its highest level since the Paris attack in November last year. A series of lightning raids of suspected terrorist hideouts were conducted across the nation in the days that followed.
One incident that has not been widely reported in media involved a man being shot by police for carrying a suspicious bag at a tram stop on Friday, the CBS has reported.
It was one of the three raids targeted before the weekend where Belgian police have discovered a small bomb-making factory that is believed to be connected to both the Paris and Brussels attacks.
Authorities have reportedly found ‘alarming’ evidence showing a Europe-wide network of terrorist but declined to give further details due to security reasons.
Suspects
The three suicide bombers were killed along with the 28 innocent people who lost their lives in the explosions at Zaventem airport and at the Maalbeek metro station on Tuesday, March 22.
Ibrahim El Bakraoui and Najim Laachraoui blew themselves up at the Brussels airport, killing 14 people. More than an hour later, Ibrahim’s brother Khalid El Bakraoui detonated a third bomb inside a subway car, killing 14 people more.
DNA that were recovered from one of the suicide vests in Bataclan concert hall and Stade de France reportedly matches that of Laachraoui.
Three other suspects were arrested on Thursday including what the police described as the ‘man in white jacket’ who was captured in a surveillance camera along with the two suicide bombers.
The ‘man in white jacket’ has been identified as Faycal Cheffou. He was detained by Belgian authorities and was formally charged with “participation in the activities of a terrorist group, terrorist murders and attempted terrorist murders” before the prosecutor’s office.
The other two men arrested were identified as Raba N. and Aboubakar A. Both were also charged with “involvement in the activities of a terrorist group.
Victims
As of Saturday, March 26, 24 of the 31 victims were already identified by the Belgian authorities. These include the following: Andre Adam, Patricia Rizzo, Jennifer Scintu Waetzmann, Elita Borbor Weah, siblings Alexander and Sascha Pinczowski, David Dixon, Adelma Tapia Ruiz, Leopold Hecht, Olivier Delespesse, a Chinese national surnamed Deng and American couple Justin Shults and his wife Stephanie Shults.
The Dutch and French foreign ministry also confirmed they have one citizen each who died in the attack.
Police have yet to release the identities of the other victims.
At least 270 people were wounded in the suicide bombings; with 15 of them being treated for serious burns and 5 others remain in intensive care units. More than 90 of the wounded are being treated at a Brussels military hospital.
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