Attacks in Paris: Brussels council chamber extends detention of five suspects

In connection with the investigation into the attacks in Paris on 13 November 2015, the defence chamber extended the pre-trial detention of Mohamed Abrini, Osama Krayem, Yassine Atar, Mohamed Bakkali and Monir Ahmed Alaaj, also known as Soufien Ayari, said the federal prosecutor's office on Thursday. Mohamed Abrini has been charged with participating in the activities of a terrorist group, terrorist killings and attempted terrorist killings in the Brussels bombings case. He has also been charged with participating in the activities of a terrorist group and terrorist killings in the case of the Paris bombings.

Osama Krayem, alias Naim Al Hamed, is the second man who was present during the attack on the Maelbeek metro station.

Soufien Ayari, also known as Amine Choukri and Monir Ahmed Alaaj, were intercepted during a police operation conducted on the Rue des Quatre Vents in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean on the same day and at the same address as Salah Abdeslam. He was charged on 19 March 2016 with participation in terrorist killings and in the activities of a terrorist group.

The role of Mohamed Bakkali in the attacks remains unclear for now. But he notably rented the apartment in Max Roos street, in Schaerbeek, where the brothers El Bakraoui stayed before the attacks of Brussels. He was arrested in Brussels on 26 November 2015.

Yassine Atar was arrested on 27 March 2016 in the company of two other suspects. All three were suspected of planning an attack against the "March Against Fear" planned and canceled on 27 March 2016 in Brussels. Yassine Atar was placed under arrest warrant on 31 May in the context of the Belgian part of the investigation into the Paris bombings of 2015 and was charged with terrorist killings and participation as a group leader in terrorist activities.


The Brussels Times


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