Belgian prosecutors have charged three men with terrorist offences, including a suspect who local media said appeared on security footage with two suicide bombers at Brussels airport shortly before they detonated their bombs. Authorities identified the first suspect on Saturday as Faycal C., although Belgian media reported his full name as Faycal Cheffou.
The newspaper Le Soir reported that he is believed to be the third attacker at the Brussels airport, who has been on the run. Prosecutors also alleged that he was the man wearing a hat and a light-coloured jacket in last Tuesday’s airport picture that showed three men pushing baggage trolleys bearing luggage.
The newspaper said Faycal C. was identified by a taxi driver who drove the attackers to the airport. Faycal C. was one of those detained by authorities following raids on Thursday evening in the Schaerbeek and Jette eighbourhoods of Brussels. An arrest was also made in France on Thursday, while separate raids were carried out on Friday in Schaerbeek, Forest and Saint-Gilles areas of Brussels.
Prosecutors said the home of Faycal C. was searched by investigators, but no weapons or explosives were found. Prosecutors said they have also charged two other people with participation in the activities of a terrorist group but do not establish a direct link between them and the Brussels attacks. The two men were identified as Aboubakar A. and Rabah N. Rabah N. was wanted in connection with a related raid in France this week that authorities said foiled an apparent attack plot.
In total, nine people have been arrested since Thursday in Belgium and two in Germany. Authorities also said that a man arrested on Friday after being shot in the leg at a tram stop in the Brussels district of Schaerbeek was being held for a further 24 hours. He was identified as Abderamane A. and was one of three people arrested on Friday.
