Belgium detains brother of Paris, Brussels attacks suspect
Belgium detains brother of Paris, Brussels attacks suspect
Belgian authorities detained the brother of a man suspected of links to the deadly attacks that rocked Brussels and Paris, prosecutors said on Monday.
2 min read
Security forces have clamped down on suspects with several raids this week [AFP]
The brother of a man suspected of being involved in the deadly attacks that hit Paris and Brussels was detained on Monday for violating his bail conditions, Belgian prosecutors said.
Ibrahim Abrini, a Moroccan-Belgian, whose brother Mohamed was seen on camera with Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam north of the French capital two days before the attack, was recaptured.
In early March, authorities accused Ibrahim Abrini of "participation in the activities of a terrorist group" at the time police were looking for his brother Mohamed, the federal prosecutor's office spokesman Thierry Werts told AFP.
Investigators believe Ibrahim withheld vital information on the whereabouts of his brother during the investigation into the attacks .
Despite this he was "allowed his freedom provided he respect a certain number of conditions," the federal prosecutor's office spokesman Thierry Werts told AFP, without revealing details on the conditions.
An investigating judge confirmed the detention was not linked to counter-terrorism raids carried out by authorities earlier this week.
On Friday, Belgian authorities clamped down on those involved in the Brussels attacks, arresting and charging dozens for their participation.
Youssef E.A was among several others charged over the bombings that hit Brussels airport and a metro station on March 22.
The 30-year-old was charged with "participation in the activities of a terrorist group, terrorist murders and attempts of terrorist murders, as a perpetrator, co-perpetrator of accomplice", Belgium's federal prosecutor said.
Several others suspected of being involved in the attacks joined authorities in a reconstruction at an apartment in the Brussels suburb of Etterbeek on Friday, a prosecutor statement said.
Mohamed Abrini, 31, is suspected of playing a role in both the Paris attacks and the Brussels attacks on March 22, which killed 32 people in Belgium and 130 in the French capital.
A Belgian court on June 9 approved Mohamed Abrini's extradition to France, but said the handover would not happen immediately.
Ìý
