In the ongoing trial of the 22 March 2016 terror attacks in Brussels, several of the accused men appeared in court on Monday morning only to return to their cells shortly after.
Mohamed Abrini, Osama Krayem and Ali El Haddad Asufi returned to their cells on Monday morning, with Ibrahim Farisi also having been asked to leave the room. The President of the Assize court, Laurence Massart, urged Farisi not to leave the room, but to no avail.
"I am sick, I am not well," Farisi said from behind a face mask, after the other three had stood up. "I wish to leave the courtroom when the other defendants are not here."
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Massart argued that it was his trial and he was obliged to attend, but Farisi did not listen.
"Only if they undergo it, I undergo it too," he said. She reiterated that he was not allowed to leave the room, but Farisi left anyway. A short time later, he returned and resumed his seat.
This means that at 10:00 on Monday, just four of the accused men were present. Smaïl Farisi (Ibrahim's brother) remained in his seat with his head bowed during his brother's speech. Also remaining in the accused bench were Sofien Ayari, Bilal El Makhoukhi and Hervé Bayingana Muhirwa.
Salah Abdeslam did not show up at all: he presented a doctor's certificate.
