One Person Arrested in Brussels Attack

One Person Arrested in Brussels Attack

During the morning traffic hours in Brussels, Belgium, three explosions killed 31 people dead and left another 271 wounded at two different explosion sites: Brussels Airport and a metro station in Maelbeek.

Shortly after the attacks, police were able to gather a still frame photo from the airport surveillance that showed three men with luggage carts. Officials believed these three men to be associated with the tragic events as two of them were dressed in all black, with one glove covering their left hands (a possible way to hide a detonator) and the other was wearing a hat and long trench coat pushed a large luggage bag that was thought to have contained a bomb.

The two men in black were identified as brothers Khalid and Brahim El Bakraoui. Both men were suspected of having ties to the November 13 carnage in the French capital. Officials believe the two men were suicide bombers and died at the airport during the blasts. Identifying them, however, is a big move forward in the investigation to find out how large the scope of connections runs in the Belgium town.

One person has been arrested after the terrorist attacks in Belgium, through the country’s federal prosecutor said that the man believed to have been the third person (dressed in hat and coat, as mentioned before) taking part directly in the Brussels airport attack still remains on the run.

Police were also able to put together a timeline of the events at the airport. The first two explosives went off within 37 seconds of each other shortly before 8 a.m. on March 22. The third suspect, the one who is still at large, left another bomb that did not explode around that time. Instead, authorities detonated it in a controlled explosion that did not result in any casualties.

While there is an abundance of information on the airport explosions, there is very little that has been publicly revealed about the bombing at the Maelbeek metro station.  Police believe the lack of information is due to the fact that the station lacked security measures that the airport did have, such as video surveillance where the police were able to pull the picture of the three suspects.

It is believe that through the evidence found at the airport, and within the scene of the crime in the metro station, the police can begin to peel back the pieces of the onion and form an idea about what happened on the train.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities