Belgium confirms Brussels metro bomber's link to Paris attacks

2016-03-24 11:52:21

(MENAFN- The Peninsula) File Photo - Police are seen at the crime scene that has been set up near Maelbeek Metro station after an explosion occured earlier in the day in Brussels Belgium 22 March 2016. EPA/YOAN VALAT

BRUSSELS March 24 (Reuters) - Belgian prosecutors confirmedon Thursday they issued an international arrest warrant inDecember for one of two brothers blamed for deadly bomb blastsin Brussels this week because he was wanted in connection withlast year's Paris attacks.

Khalid El Bakraoui 27 blew himself up on a crowded rushhour train in Brussels on Tuesday prosecutors have said.

They confirmed in a statement on Thursday that he waspreviously suspected of using a false identity to rent aproperty in the Belgian city of Charleroi which was used as asafe house by members of an Islamist cell that carried out theNov. 13 Paris attacks that killed 130 people.

Belgian police searched the property on Dec. 9 and issued aninternational arrest warrant for Bakraoui on Dec. 11. Hisdetails and photo appear on a list of wanted people on thewebsite of Interpol.

Prosecutors say his brother Ibrahim 29 had been one of twomen who blew themselves up at Brussels airport in thecoordinated attacks on Tuesday.

Reuters

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