New Times,
New Thinking.

  1. World
  2. Europe
22 March 2016

The Brussels attacks point to the existence of a broad terrorist network in Belgium

There is more to this than merely retaliation for the arrest of Salah Abdesalam, the Paris bomber who was captured four days ago.

By Shiraz Maher

Three bombings have taken place in Belgium today with two explosions occurring at the airport and another one at Maalbeek metro station. There are 26 people confirmed dead, and reports are still coming in of exactly what happened. Attacks of this kind once again demonstrate the difficulties in securing “soft targets”, particularly where they relate to the transportation system (bearing in mind that transport networks have previously been targeted in Madrid, in 2003, and London, in 2005).

There will be a rush to suggest these attacks have come as retaliation for the arrest of Salah Abdesalam, one of the central figures in the Paris attacks from last November, just four days ago. Yet, it is unlikely a cell would have been able to mobilise so quickly and build several viable devices within this time. Much more worrying is that today’s attack suggests the existence of a broad terrorist network in Belgium – one that was already primed and ready to attack, long before police caught up with Abdesalam.

Abdesalam managed to hide in the Molenbeek district of Brussels for more than four months before authorities finally caught up with him. His capture followed a series of other arrests across Belgium focusing on supporters of Islamic State. Belgium faces a significant terrorist threat. Molenbeek has long been associated with hardliners and radicals. Beyond the Paris attacks, people from the area have also been linked to the gun attack on the Jewish Museum of Belgium in 2014 which killed four, and the failed terrorist attack on a Thalys high-speed train from Amsterdam to Paris last year.

Research conducted by the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (where I work) suggests that, per capita, Belgium has twice as many foreign fighters in Syria as France, and four times as many as Britain. More than 100 are believed to have travelled from Brussels alone.

Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU

Content from our partners
The road to clean power 2030
Why Rachel Reeves needs to focus on food in schools
No health, no growth