Brussels terror attacks: what we know

Investigators have made progress in piecing together who carried out the terrorist attacks in Brussels and why, but some questions still remain open.

THE BRUSSELS TERRORIST ATTACKS:

* WHAT WE KNOW

- The attacks carried out on morning of March 22 by at least four people

- two suicide bombers blew themselves up at the international airport, a third dropped off an explosive device and then left

- a fourth attacker blew himself up in a train at the Maelbeek station, near the seat in Brussels of the European Union's main institutions

- two dead suicide bombers identified as Brussels-born brothers Ibrahim El Bakraoui, 29, and Khalid El Bakraoui, 27

- Ibrahim was one of the suicide bombers at the airport, Khalid was at Maelbeek station

- third bomber is Najim Laachraoui, a 24-year-old Belgian national who had long been sought in connection with last year's Paris terrorist attacks; he was second suicide bomber who died in the airport attack

- at least 31 people dead in addition to the three attackers

- 28 of victims identified

- other victims have died in hospital but not yet included in official tally

- foreigners of eight different nationalities died

- 340 people wounded

- 19 foreign nationalities among injured victims

- Islamic State extremist group has claimed responsibility

- growing link between Brussels suicide bombings and November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris

- Laachraoui and Khalid El Bakraoui suspected of having rented real estate in Belgium allegedly used by Paris attackers

- traces of Laachraoui's DNA found on explosive vests used in Paris.

* WHAT WE DON'T KNOW

- Identity of fugitive airport attacker

- Belgian media say it's Faycal Cheffou, who was taken into custody on Thursday evening

- prosecutors say a man identified as Faycal C has been charged with terrorist murder, attempted terrorist murder and participation in activities of a terrorist group

- media reports of a second attacker at Maelbeek station, but not confirmed by Belgian officials

- still not known if other people helped Brussels attackers

- German police have arrested two men; one of them said to have had messages on his mobile phone linking him to the suicide bombings.


Share
2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world