Suspected terrorists became radicalized at the mosque The mayor of Molenbeek, Françoise Schepmans (MR), has decided to close a mosque at Ransfort street for breaches of town planning rules. The mosque was frequented by terrorist suspects, reported Sudpresse on Friday (4 November).
The Belgian interior intelligence service (Sûreté de l'Etat) has monitored this apparently discrete mosque for almost a year since it was suspected of radicalization.
The place was frequented by Ayoub El Khazzani, the perpetrator in the foiled attack on the Thalys train, Chakib Akrouh, who participated in the attacks in Paris, and Mohamed Abrini, the "man in the hat" in the attacks in Brussels on 22 March.
The mosque was closed on October 7 because of changes of the purpose of the premises from commerce to a house of worship without any planning permit. The place could reopen only if municipal officials will determine that it has been restored to its original purpose.
The Brussels Times (Source: Belga)
