The defense team of Smail Farisi will present its case in the trial over the 22 March 2016 bombings on Monday.
Farisi is accused of providing a hideout to suicide bomber Ibrahim El Bakraoui, his brother Khalid, and Osama Krayem at his Etterbeek apartment. The location served as the bombers’ starting point on the day of the attacks.
Farisi has claimed he was unaware of the El Bakraoui brothers’ intentions. The prosecution has admitted there is no proof he knew about the planned attacks, leading them to request his acquittal on charges of murder and attempted murder within a terrorist context.
However, the public prosecutor argues that Farisi’s regular visits to the apartment and time spent with the bombers should have made him aware of their radicalization, leading to charges of participating in a terrorist group’s activities.
Verdict awaits
On Tuesday, Farisi’s brother Ibrahim will face the same charges. Prosecutors have already requested his acquittal.
The accused will then be given a final opportunity to make their case, and the jury will then seclude themselves to determine the guilt or innocence of the ten men on trial, one of whom is absent.
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On 22 March 2016, a double explosion occurred at Brussels internaional airport in Zaventem. Authorities later found and safely detonated a third unexploded device at the scene.
An hour later, a third explosion rocked Brussels metro station Maelbeek. The attacks claimed 32 lives and injured hundreds.
