Lois Larson
On the morning of 22 March 2016, three attackers entered the departure hall of Brussels Airport with suitcases containing bombs. Two of the attackers, Ibrahim El Bakraoui and Najim Laachraoui, detonated their bombs in the crowded airport, killing 16 people. A third attacker, Mohamed Abrini, fled the scene without detonating his bomb and was arrested 16 days later. About an hour after the airport attack, a suicide bomber detonated a bomb in a rucksack in the middle carriage of a train at Maelbeek metro station, killing 16 people. A second suicide bomber, Osama Krayem, left the metro without detonating his bomb. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks, which killed a total of 32 victims and the three attackers, and injured over 300 people.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 22 March 2016 |
| Location | Brussels Airport, Zaventem, Belgium |
| Type of attack | Two coordinated terrorist attacks |
| Attackers | Ibrahim El Bakraoui, Najim Laachraoui, Brahim al-Bakraoui, Mohamed Abrini, Osama Krayem |
| Victims | 32 people (excluding the three suicide bombers) were killed, and over 300 were injured |
| Other arrests | Osama K, Salah Abdeslam |
| Group responsible | Islamic State (IS) |
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What You'll Learn
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks
On 22 March 2016, two coordinated terrorist attacks in and close to Brussels, Belgium, were carried out by the Islamic State (IS). The group asserted responsibility for the attacks via a statement posted on the Amaq Agency, a website believed to be close to the extremist group. The message said Belgium was targeted because of its participation in an international coalition battling the group in Syria and Iraq.
The first attack took place at the Brussels Airport in Zaventem just outside Brussels, where two suicide bombers detonated bombs in the departures hall. The first explosion occurred at 07:58 in check-in row 11, and the second happened about nine seconds later in check-in row 2. Sixteen people were killed in the airport attack, including retired diplomat André Adam, who had served as Belgian Permanent Representative to the United Nations and as Ambassador to the United States.
The second attack occurred at the Maelbeek/Maelbeek metro station in the city's European Quarter, where one bomber detonated a bomb on a train. The blast took place in the middle carriage of a three-carriage train at 9:11, just as the train was pulling out of the station. Sixteen people were killed in the metro attack.
In total, 32 people were killed in the attacks, excluding the three suicide bombers, and more than 300 were injured. The perpetrators belonged to a terrorist cell that had been involved in the November 2015 Paris attacks. The Belgian Government declared three days of national mourning after the bombings, which were the deadliest attacks on Belgium since World War II.
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32 people were killed and over 300 were injured
On 22 March 2016, two coordinated terrorist attacks in Brussels, Belgium, left 32 people dead and over 300 injured. The attacks, carried out by the Islamic State, took place at Brussels Airport in Zaventem and Maelbeek/Maalbeek metro station in the city's European Quarter.
The first explosion at the airport occurred at 07:58 in check-in row 11, with the second following just nine seconds later in check-in row 2. Sixteen people were killed in the airport attack. Ibrahim El Bakraoui and Najim Laachraoui were identified as the suicide bombers, with a third attacker, Mohamed Abrini, fleeing the scene without detonating his bomb.
The metro station bombing took place at 09:11, just over an hour after the airport explosions. A suicide bomber detonated a bomb in a rucksack in the middle carriage of a three-carriage train at Maelbeek, located near the European Commission headquarters. The blast killed 16 people and injured many more. A second attacker carrying a bomb left the scene without detonating it and later dismantled it at a hideout in Etterbeek, an eastern municipality of Brussels.
The victims of the attacks included people from Belgium, the US, the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, China, India, and Peru. They ranged in age from 20 to 79 years old. Among the fatalities was retired Belgian diplomat André Adam. The Belgian government declared three days of national mourning following the attacks, which were the deadliest in Belgium since World War II.
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The perpetrators were involved in the November 2015 Paris attacks
On 22 March 2016, two coordinated terrorist attacks in and close to Brussels, Belgium, were carried out by the Islamic State (IS). Two suicide bombers detonated bombs at Brussels Airport in Zaventem, and one detonated a bomb on a train leaving Maelbeek/Maelbeek metro station in the city's European Quarter. Thirty-two people were killed and more than 300 were injured.
The perpetrators of the Brussels bombings belonged to a terrorist cell that had been involved in the November 2015 Paris attacks. The Paris attacks were a series of coordinated attacks at sites including a concert hall and sports stadium that killed 130 people and injured hundreds. The Islamic State group also claimed responsibility for these attacks.
The Brussels cell was linked to Belgium, the country with the highest reported number of recruits to Islamist armed groups per capita in Western Europe. Many of the perpetrators of the Paris attacks had lived in the Molenbeek area of Brussels, which is noted for its links to extremist activities. The Belgian government responded to the attacks by enacting new counterterrorism laws and regulations and deploying soldiers in major cities.
Several of the attackers in Brussels and Paris were identified and named. Ibrahim El Bakraoui, aged 29, was one of the suicide bombers at Brussels Airport. He had previously shot and injured a police officer during an attempted robbery at a currency exchange office in 2010 and was arrested in Turkey near the Syrian border in 2015. Najim Laachraoui, aged 24, was the other suicide bomber at the airport and is believed to have made the bombs used in the Paris attacks. Khalid El Bakraoui, aged 27, was the younger brother of Ibrahim El Bakraoui and carried out the suicide bombing at Maelbeek metro station. He had received a prison sentence for a violent car-jacking in 2012. Mohamed Abrini, born 27 December 1984, fled Brussels Airport without detonating his bomb and was arrested on 8 April 2016. Osama Krayem, born 16 August 1992, accompanied Khalid El Bakraoui to the metro but also fled without detonating his explosives. He was arrested on the same day as Abrini.
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The Belgian government declared three days of national mourning
On March 22, 2016, two coordinated terrorist attacks were carried out in and close to Brussels, Belgium. Two suicide bombers detonated bombs at Brussels Airport in Zaventem, and one detonated a bomb on a train leaving the Maelbeek/Maelbeek metro station in the city's European Quarter. The Belgian government declared three days of national mourning after the bombings, which were the deadliest attacks on Belgium since World War II.
The attacks resulted in a total of 32 fatalities, excluding the three suicide bombers, and over 300 injuries. The victims included both Belgian nationals and foreign nationals from various countries, including the United States, the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, China, India, and Peru. The Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attacks, and the perpetrators were linked to the terrorist cell involved in the November 2015 Paris attacks.
The Belgian government's declaration of three days of national mourning reflected the severity and impact of the attacks on the nation. During this time, the country united in grief and paid respect to the victims and their families. Flags were flown at half-staff, and many public events and activities were cancelled or postponed as a mark of respect. The government also encouraged the public to show solidarity and come together to support those affected by the tragedy.
The mourning period allowed the nation to honour the victims and demonstrate unity and resilience in the face of terrorism. It also served as a time for reflection and healing, with many Belgians attending vigils, memorials, and religious services to commemorate the lives lost and show support for the survivors. The Belgian government worked closely with local communities and international partners to coordinate the response to the attacks and provide support to those impacted.
The declaration of national mourning was a significant step in the country's recovery from the traumatic event. It allowed Belgians to grieve collectively and seek solace in their shared experience. The mourning period also served as a reminder of the country's resilience and determination to stand united against terrorism and honor the memory of those lost in the Brussels airport bombing.
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The attacks raised questions about radicalisation in Belgium
On 22 March 2016, two coordinated terrorist attacks in and close to Brussels, Belgium, were carried out by the Islamic State (IS). Two suicide bombers detonated bombs at Brussels Airport in Zaventem, and one detonated a bomb on a train leaving Maelbeek/Maelbeek metro station in the city's European Quarter. Thirty-two people were killed and more than 300 were injured. The attacks raised questions about radicalisation in Belgium.
Belgium has seen more foreign fighters per capita travel to ISIS’s battlefield than any other country in the European Union. Laachraoui, one of the suicide bombers, had been active with ISIS in Syria, while Ibrahim El Bakraoui was arrested by Turkish authorities attempting to enter Syria. The Paris and Brussels attacks were planned by the same cell, acting under orders from ISIS in Syria or Iraq.
The fear is that as ISIS loses territory, foreign fighters will return to Belgium. Homegrown terrorism is also a concern for authorities. The Brussels suburb of Molenbeek was a major base for jihadists in Western Europe and was said to be the location of the planning of the November 2015 Paris attacks. Belgian authorities captured Salah Abdeslam, a key suspect in the Paris attacks, four days before the Brussels bombings.
The Belgian government declared three days of national mourning after the 2016 bombings, which were the deadliest attacks on Belgium since World War II. The country was criticised in the media for its apparent lack of national security. Attention focused on the division between the French- and Dutch-speaking communities and the decentralised system of government.
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Frequently asked questions
The Brussels Airport bombing took place on 22 March 2016.
The Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attacks. The perpetrators were Ibrahim El Bakraoui, Najim Laachraoui, and Mohamed Abrini.
32 people were killed, excluding the three suicide bombers, and more than 300 were injured.
The Belgian government declared three days of national mourning. The Brussels Metro was shut down, and the airport and the entire public transport system in Brussels were closed.
