Belgian authorities say six people have been arrested as part of the investigation into Tuesday’s suicide bombings in Brussels.
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BRUSSELS (AP) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is holding counter-terrorism talks in Brussels on Friday as top members of Belgium’s embattled government face ongoing criticism for a series of security and intelligence failings ahead of this week’s bomb attacks in the city that killed 31 people and wounded 270. Raids have also taken place in the Brussels district of Schaerbeek where the three airport attackers left from on Tuesday morning carrying three explosive-packed suitcases. There have been no arrests in the neighbourhood.
“At this stage, there is no tangible evidence that links this plot to the attacks in Paris and Brussels”, added Cazeneuve, who was in the Belgian capital earlier on Thursday.
Meanwhile, VRT reported that investigators were working on the assumption that the cell had been planning a far bigger attack, involving Paris-style shootings as well as suicide bombings.
Belgium’s Justice Minister has denied that authorities were warned that Ibrahim was a terror threat.
There are reports that a suspected second bomber in the attack on the metro is also being sought.
Bakraoui’s brother, Khalid, struck at Maelbeek metro station, where 20 people died.
Belgian prosecutors say those in custody are linked to this week’s attacks on the city’s airport and subway system. De Morgen newspaper said he had violated the terms of his parole in May by maintaining contacts with past criminal associates, but a Belgian magistrate had released him.
The raids came after Belgium lowered its security alert level one notch down from four, the highest level, to three.
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The two terrorist brothers who blew themselves up in order to kill dozens of civilians in Brussels were reportedly on a terror watch-list in the US.
