The Belgian prosecutor's office announced that the attackers of the Brussels airport and metro intended to carry out a new terrorist operation in France. According to a report by the Associated Press on Sunday (April 22), the Belgian federal prosecutor made this announcement in a statement released today. The statement noted that the attackers decided to execute their terrorist operation in Brussels instead of France after realizing the 'speed' of police investigations. The content of this statement confirms speculations that the extensive arrests of several individuals suspected of terrorist activities, including Salah Abdeslam, one of the main suspects in the Paris attacks in the weeks leading up to the Brussels operation, were the reason for the terrorists' decision to change the location of their operation from France to Brussels. The Belgian prosecutor's office had confirmed the arrest of 'several individuals' following the Brussels operation, including Mohamed Abrini, one of the main suspects in the Paris and Brussels attacks. He is the 'man in the hat' who was previously captured on surveillance cameras at Brussels airport after leaving the scene following the bombing. Abrini, besides having a childhood friendship with Salah Abdeslam, who is currently imprisoned in Belgium, also collaborated with him in executing and planning the Paris attacks. Previously, there had been reports of connections between the bombers in the Brussels metro and airport and the November 2015 attacks in France that left 130 victims. Two suicide bombings at Brussels airport on March 22 resulted in at least 16 deaths, and a bomb explosion in the city’s metro led to another 16 casualties. The Belgian Minister of the Interior also mentioned in a television interview last night the possibility of other active terrorist groups in the country. Although there have been significant police advancements in arresting suspects in recent days, anti-terror security measures in Belgium remain at the second level, indicating the authorities' concerns about the potential for similar operations.
Brussels Attackers Intended to Launch Operations Again in Paris
The Belgian prosecutor revealed that the attackers of the Brussels airport and metro had initially planned a terrorist operation in France but changed their target due to police investigations. This highlights ongoing concerns about terrorism in Europe, particularly in Belgium, where several suspects have been arrested.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Belgian prosecutor announced that the attackers of the Brussels airport and metro had initially planned to target France but shifted their operations to Belgium due to police investigations. This change highlights the ongoing threat of terrorism in Europe.
- The Brussels attacks resulted in at least 32 deaths.
- Several suspects, including key figures from previous attacks, have been arrested.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Brussels attacks were part of a series of coordinated terrorist activities in Europe, linked to larger networks that have previously targeted multiple countries.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%