Belgian media retracts report of key Brussels bombing suspect's arrest

Brussels police release surveillance image of suspects.

last updated 23 March 2016

UPDATE: The Belgian newspaper that reported Laachraoui's arrest, La Derniere Heure, now says that they misidentifed the man arrested in the Anderlecht district. Belgian police and prosecutors are expected to address the mixed reports at a news conference Wednesday. Our original story is below:

Belgian authorities have arrested their first key suspect in Tuesday's deadly terrorist attacks in Brussels, Belgian media is reporting, citing judicial sources. The suspect, Najim Laachraoui, is believed to be the third person captured in surveillance footage at the Brussels airport before the other two terrorists — identified by state broadcaster RTBF as brothers Khalid and Brahim El Bakraoui — blew themselves up. Laachraoui was taken into custody in the Anderlecht area, BBC News reports. The two explosions at the Zaventem airport and a third one at a Brussels metro station killed at least 34 people and wounded another 250. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.

Subscribe to The Week

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox