Belgian Raids Finally Lead to Capture of Suspected Man in the Hat Terrorist

On Friday April 8, 2016, Belgium police made six arrests of suspected Islamic State (IS) jihadists throughout Brussels. Authorities captured Mohammed Abrini, the close friend of Salah Abdeslam, and suspected of being the third accomplice known the “man in the hat” during the Brussels attack.

Abrini was arrested at the Petillion Metro Station in the Anderlecht District of Brussels, which was a known home to many of the Paris and Brussels terrorists.

While being interviewed by investigators Abrini admitted that he had been at Zaventem Airport with suicide bombers Najim Laachraoui and Ibrahim El Bokraoui on the morning of March 22. Abrini had been wanted for his role in last November’s Paris attacks that left 130 dead. Abrini also admitted that he is the “man in the hat” when the federal prosecutor presented evidence implicating him of being the mysterious individual.

His finger prints have also been linked to two safe houses including the Renault Cilo used in the Paris attacks and another in Forrest used by Abdeslam.

He also admitted Brussels was never an intended target but plans changed after the arrest of Abdeslam. Abrini and fellow jihadists were surprised by the speed of the ongoing investigation. The initial target was the Euro 2016 football championships which are held in ten French cities from June 10 to July 10.

The other suspects identities released included a Swede named Osama Krayem from Malmo, who disappeared in 2014 to go fight in Syria. Krayem was of Syrian heritage and he posted a picture of himself on Facebook wearing military fatigues while holding an Ak-47 and standing in front of the Tawheed, official flag of the IS.

Krayem was spotted on CCTV’s at the City 2 shopping mall buying the rucksacks that would be later used for the terrorists attacks in Brussels. He was also spotted on by security cameras at the Maelbeek Metro with Khalid El Bakraoui right before the attacks. Krayem reportedly used a fake passport and  reentered Europe through the “migrant route” of going through Turkey and reaching Greece. He traveled along with a man named Monir Ahmed Alaaj and the two reached the Greek Island of Leros last September before crossing into Austria reaching a refuge camp in Ulm, Germany. Prosecutors believe he met up with Abdeslam picked up the pair from the Ibis hotel in Germany on October 3 and drove them back to Brussels.

The IS has had great mobility traveling throughout Europe with the open border system and utilizing false passports they have largely avoided detection.

The four remaining suspects included two brothers who were arrested but later released, Bilal El Makhouhki, who had been convicted last January of being involved with Sharia4Belgium, a now disbanded group that encouraged people to fight alongside jihadists in Syria and Iraq.Originally sentenced to five years in prison he had three years suspended and was allowed to serve the remainder of the sentence under electronic surveillance.  The last suspect was a Rwandan named Herve B.M., who was charged with helping Abrini and Krayem.

Police along with prosecutors are working harder than ever to destroy these IS cells that have plague Brussels for more than a decade. The task may seem daunting but with good improved cooperation and intelligence gathering there may be some hope that one day these jihadists groups will be eradicated from Brussels.