The DNA of Brussels bomber Najim Laachraoui has linked him to the Paris attacks, The Washington Post reports. Laachraoui is believed to have been the bombmaker who created the weapons used in the Paris attacks; he is now thought to have blown himself up at the Brussels airport on Tuesday, according to Arab and European intelligence officials who spoke anonymously to The Washington Post. Previously, Laachraoui had been reported to be on the loose.
The DNA linking the French and Belgian terrorist attacks further proves the reach and planning of ISIS. The Associated Press reported Wednesday that the Islamic State has trained "at least 400 fighters to target Europe in deadly waves."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
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.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Bombmakers are considered extremely valuable by ISIS; it is rare that they are involved in suicide attacks, according to terrorism experts. A frantic will written by Ibrahim el-Bakraoui perhaps hints that the extremists felt the authorities closing in, which explains Laachraoui's participation.
At least 31 people were killed in the Brussels attacks and 270 were injured.
-
One great cookbook: 'Jam Bakes'The Week Recommends A guide to pristine jam-making, plus the baked goods that love them
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
The Secret Service is reportedly facing a massive sniper shortageThe Explainer The agency is reportedly dealing with a 73% shortage
-
2 kids killed in shooting at Catholic school massSpeed Read 17 others were wounded during a morning mass at the Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis
-
Australian woman found guilty of mushroom murdersspeed read Erin Patterson murdered three of her ex-husband's relatives by serving them toxic death cap mushrooms
-
Combs convicted on 2 of 5 charges, denied bailSpeed Read Sean 'Diddy' Combs was acquitted of the more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking
-
Sniper kills 2 Idaho firefighters in ambushSpeed Read A man started a wildfire, then fired a rifle at first responders when they arrived
-
Weinstein convicted of sex crime in retrialSpeed Read The New York jury delivered a mixed and partial verdict at the disgraced Hollywood producer's retrial
-
'King of the Hill' actor shot dead outside homespeed read Jonathan Joss was fatally shot by a neighbor who was 'yelling violent homophobic slurs,' says his husband
-
DOJ, Boulder police outline attacker's confessionspeed read Mohamed Sabry Soliman planned the attack for a year and 'wanted them all to die'
-
Assailant burns Jewish pedestrians in Boulderspeed read Eight people from the Jewish group were hospitalized after a man threw Molotov cocktails in a 'targeted act of violence'
