Suspect believed to be linked to Brussels, Paris attacks reportedly arrested

(Image credit: BELGIAN FEDERAL POICE / HANDOUT)

published 8 April 2016

Broadcasters in Belgium are reporting the arrest of Paris attacks suspect Mohamed Abrini, who is also believed but not confirmed to be the "man in the hat" shown in Brussels airport footage from just before the suicide bombings there last month. A second suspect held on Friday, Osama Kraiem, is thought to be a man who was seen with a suicide bomber before the metro station attack, Reuters reports.

Abrini's arrest in particular would be a major success for Belgium, as the country has faced criticism for its security failures. Abrini has been on Europe's most wanted list since he was seen on a service station CCTV video driving toward Paris with Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam two days before the bombings there killed 130 people in November.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.

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