Belgium charges 3 men with terrorism

A card that reads “From Syria to Brussels” lies at a makeshift memorial in tribute to the victims of the terror attacks on Place de la Bourse square in Brussels. (Photo: AFP)

Belgian prosecutors charged three men with terrorist offences, including a suspect who the local media said appeared on security footage with two suicide bombers at Brussels airport shortly before they detonated their bombs.

Prosecutors named the third man as Faycal C. while media identified him as Faycal Cheffou, and said he was the man wearing a hat and a light-coloured jacket in Tuesday’s airport picture that showed three men pushing baggage trolleys bearing luggage.

Prosecutors said he had been charged with taking part in the activities of a terrorist group, and actual and attempted terrorist murder. His home had been searched though no weapons or explosives had been found.

Two other men, Abou-bakar A. And Rabah N., were also charged with terrorist activities and me-mbership of a terrorist group. Rabah N. was wanted in connection with a related raid in France this week that authorities say foiled an apparent attack plot. A total of 31 people were killed, including three attackers, and scores wounded in the Brussels attacks which were claimed by ISIS.

With increasing signs that the Brussels and Paris attacks were carried out by members of the same network, the police across Europe arrested nine people in raids in Belgium and two in Germany before the weekend.

Three men were arrested in Brussels on Friday, including one suspect shot in the leg at a tram stop in the district of Schaerbeek. He was subsequently identified as Abderamane A. and Belgian authorities said on Saturday they were holding him for further 24 hours.

Another person, Tawfik A., who was taken in for questioning on Friday, had been released.

Heavily armed soldiers and police remained on patrol in the capital and Zaventem Airport. In an indication the city is still on edge, a bomb disposal squad carried out a controlled detonation on a southern Brussels street to destroy a suspect backpack.

Fayal C., whom media said was a freelance journalist, was identified by a taxi driver who drove the attackers to the airport on March 22, Le Soir newspaper said.

Earlier, the police and government sources said it was highly likely he was the third man seen at the airport.

Meanwhile, Belgian authorities asked people not to join a “March against Fear” on Sunday because of security concerns, suggesting the rally should be delayed by several weeks.

“We invite the citizens tomorrow to not have this manifestation,” interior minister Jan Jambon said on Saturday, citing security fears as Belgium remains on high alert after Tuesday’s attacks.

Organisers said Sunday’s march was meant to show that Brussels and the country at large refused to be intimidated by terrorism and that everyone stood together.

“This week, we, Belgian citizens have been attacked, in how we live, our customs, our rights, our liberty” a statement said. “The first reaction in such events is to withdraw but on reflection, fear must give way to hope and the defence of our values.”

The march was due to begin at 1300 GMT on Sunday at the central Place de La Bourse which, carpeted with flowers and tributes, has turned into a shrine to the victims.