On Tuesday, March 22, the city of Brussels was attacked. Twin blasts struck the main terminal of Zaventem International Airport, in the north-eastern part of the city. Another explosion hit the Maelbeek metro station in the city centre soon after. These inhumane acts have left at least 31 innocent people killed, up to 270 injured, and a countless number of family members and friends left to mourn their loved ones.
It has become evident that there may be a connection between these attacks, and the recent attacks on Paris. Several of the bombers and gunmen who targeted Paris last November, killing 130 people, had been living in Molenbeek, Belgium. The main suspect who had survived the Paris attacks, Salah Abdeslam, returned to Belgium the day afterwards and had evaded police until mid March. He and his accomplice were captured again in Molenbeek.
Belgian law enforcement officials had also reported that evidence led them to believe that 24-year-old Najim Laachraoui was one of Brussels Airport bombers. As for the Brussels metro attack, Khalid El-Bakraoui was thought to be one of the men responsible. It has been said that both of these men share notable connections to the Paris attacks. Furthermore, the single surviving bomber behind the Paris attacks is now refusing to speak to Belgian police.
Another contributing factor as to the motive of these attacks is that Belgium has struggled with Islamist groups for years now, many believing it began with their decision to allow Saudi Arabia to construct the city’s Great Mosque in the 1970’s, as well as a serious migration problem. Brussels is known to be one of the most active cities housing Islamist groups, while at least 500 of its citizens have also been lured into fighting for ISIS in Syria and Iraq.
Currently, The ‘Islamic State group’ has named themselves responsible for the attacks. The suspects believed to have carried out the Brussels attacks include two brothers, Khalid and Brahim el-Bakraoui, Najim Laachraoui, and at least one or two other men.
we can hope for is to somehow bring justice to these terrible acts of violence.
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