Belgian officials acknowledge warning signs missed

[webfact]

Belgian officials acknowledge warning signs missed
By JOHN-THOR DAHLBURG and ANGELA CHARLTON

BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium's prime minister refused to accept the resignations of his justice and interior ministers Thursday despite increasing evidence of intelligence and law enforcement failures to prevent this week's attacks by Islamic militants.

"We don't have to be proud about what happened," Justice Minister Koen Geens said of the government's failures to halt the attacks. "We perhaps did things we should not have done, at the same time."

Authorities, meanwhile, lowered Belgium's terror-threat level by one notch, although they said the situation remained grave and another attack is "likely and possible."

Belgium had been on its highest alert ever since Tuesday's bombings in the Brussels airport and subway that killed 31 people and wounded 270.

Less than a mile from the bombed subway station, European justice and home ministers held an emergency meeting where they condemned the "terrorist acts" as "an attack on our open, democratic society." They also urged the European parliament to adopt an agreement allowing authorities to exchange airport passenger data.

A manhunt continued for one of the Brussels airport attackers who was recorded on a surveillance video and had fled the scene.

Prosecutors declined to comment on reports from Belgian state broadcaster RTBF and France's Le Monde and BFM television that a fifth attacker may also be at large: A man seen on surveillance cameras in the Brussels metro carrying a large bag alongside one of the suicide bombers. It is not clear whether that man was killed in the attack or is a fugitive.

Authorities drew a line between the Brussels bombings and the Nov. 13 attacks that left 130 dead in Paris. Both appeared to have been carried out by the same Belgium-based Islamic State cell.

Prosecutors have said at least four people were involved in the Brussels bloodshed, including brothers Ibrahim and Khalid El Bakraoui, identified as suicide bombers. European security officials identified another suicide bomber as Najim Laachraoui, a suspected bombmaker for the Paris attacks.

Khalid El Bakraoui blew himself up on the train, while Ibrahim El Bakraoui and Laachraoui died in the airport.

It is clear that some of the Brussels attackers had been on the run from authorities in France and Belgium but were still able to hide in safe houses, assemble bombs and carry out linked attacks.

"If you put all things in a row, you can ask yourself major questions," about the government's performance, said Interior Minister Jan Jambon, who along with Geens had tendered his resignation.

Notable among the questions were those raised by Turkey's announcement it had warned Belgium last year that one of the Brussels attackers, Ibrahim El Bakraoui, had been flagged as a "foreign terrorist fighter."

But Prime Minister Charles Michel asked Jambon and Geens to stay on, given the current challenge the government is facing.

Turkey said Wednesday that Ibrahim El Bakraoui was apprehended in June 2015 near Turkey's border with Syria and deported to the Netherlands. He was later set free by the Dutch for lack of proof of his involvement with jihadis.

Geens appeared on a Belgian TV news show and was asked who was to blame for the failure to follow up on the Turkish warning.

"It is clear it is not one single person, but it is true that we could have expected from Ankara or Istanbul a more diligent communication, we think, that perhaps could have avoided certain things."

"Our own services should perhaps have been more critical about the place where the person had been detained," he added, referring to Turkey's border area with Syria.

"When someone is arrested there in a city few people know, it is clear enough for insiders that it could be a terrorist," Geens said. "Here, though, he was not known as a terrorist. It is the only moment we could have linked him to it. And that moment, perhaps, we missed."

The justice minister acknowledged that "we have to be very self-critical."

But Geens added that "such events have also happened in nations with the best intelligence services in the world," pointing to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.

Authorities had been unable to find Salah Abdeslam, one of the Paris ringleaders and described as one of Europe's most wanted men, until a breakthrough led them to a Brussels apartment where he was arrested Friday.

The intelligence shortcomings have prompted European authorities to once again call for quicker and more efficient intelligence cooperation.

Rob Wainwright, the head of Europe's police agency Europol, said his agency is trying to make sure investigators have access to needed information.

"You have a fragmented intelligence picture but we're trying to help with that," he said. "Our databases contain thousands of names of suspected foreign fighters which have been submitted by member states, and even the United States. But we also have records on arms smuggling, money laundering, forgery and other elements which are particularly relevant given that many of these guys had petty crime backgrounds."

He said the threat goes beyond France and Belgium and that it is impossible to reduce it to zero.

"We are looking at large numbers of foreign fighters who have returned as potential terrorists," he said. "And we are faced with a strategic decision by the Islamic State to aggressively target Europe. These are all very challenging dimensions. As for how large the community is and who has been sent back - that is the golden question."

The federal prosecutors' office said Khalid El Bakraoui had rented a house used as a hideout for the Paris attackers, and that he had been hunted by police since December.

Also Thursday, Abdeslam was summoned to court in Brussels. His lawyer, who had initially vowed to fight extradition to France for the Paris attacks, said he now wants to be sent there as soon as possible.

Abdeslam evaded police in two countries for four months before his capture, and the attackers in Brussels may have rushed their plot because they felt authorities closing in.

Abdeslam's lawyer, Sven Mary, told reporters that he asked for a one-month delay on any transfer while he studies the large dossier, but that Abdeslam "wants to explain himself in France, so it's a good thing."

Mary said the extradition process should be completed by mid-April.

While Belgium lowered its threat level, it said the potential for attacks remains likely. "The danger has not gone away," said Paul Van Tigchelt, the head of the terror assessment authority.

Nevertheless, several hundred people gathered at a makeshift memorial to the victim in Brussels' central Place de La Bourse. They sang peace songs, took selfies and wiped away tears.

Ashraf, a Moroccan-born Muslim who is proud to call himself a Bruxellois, or a Brussels resident, came to light a candle and take photos of the memorial site with his mother, father, aunt and brother.

"It always happens, that people ask Muslims 'why do you do this?' But that is not real Islam," he said. "We must have more understanding of this."

Because of the climate of suspicion, and because he wanted to protect his family, Ashraf didn't want his last name published.

Yet he still came to the Place de la Bourse to celebrate this multicultural city.

"This is a special country, it is open. I know people of many, dozens of nationalities," he said. Behind him, flags or symbols from a dozen countries adorned the square.
___

Associated Press reporters Raf Casert and Danica Kirka in Brussels and Paisley Dodds in London contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-03-25

[ezzra]

The Belgians must have thought that since they gave a safe harbored to so many Arabs and Muslims from

all over the world and allow them virtually free hand to do what they like in their country, that they will be

immund and left out of the waves of terror that over washing Europe and other countries, how sadly mistaken

they were, as no good deed goes unpunished, and now the Belgians have to come to terms that they have

many other potential terrorist in their midst.....

[SgtRock]

Belgian officials acknowledge warning signs missed

If the reports from Turkey are true that one of the bombers had been extradited to Holland on the basis of being a suspected IS fighter and that Belgium had been informed.

Then this is not a case of warning signs being missed, it is a case of gross negligence at thee very least.

[Hayduke]

Even in these trying times, hopefully security personnel won’t be tempted to subjectively ‘profile’ anyone.

At the (unnamed European) airport:

“So, should we search the military age Arab guy with the Photo shopped Mongolian passport, carrying the ‘Jihad for Dummies’ book and wearing the unusually thick, bulky, heavy looking vest underneath his ‘Death to Infidels’ t-shirt?”

“No, no, no, that would be politically incorrect and could offend his human rights. Then he might feel sad, unloved and not properly integrated into our Utopian society. Remember, we must always be totally impartial and reflect the highest standards of the new world order.”

“Hmm…good point. Then let’s interrogate, strip search, x-ray, and run the 85 year old blind Swede in the wheelchair through that cool new 120 million Euro magnetic anomaly scanner.”

“Excellent suggestion.”

And the hits keep coming.

Edited March 25, 2016 by Hayduke

[ChimeIn]

The guy was deported by Turkish Authorities for being an ISIS fighter, Belgian authorities released him lolol and people here say Turkey supports ISIS

[webfact]

Brussels Airport suicide bomber ‘deported twice from Turkey’ – reports
By Sarah Joanne Taylor | With REUTERS, FINANCIAL TIMES



PARIS: -- Ibrahim el-Bakraoui, who has been named as one of the Brussels airport suicide bombers, was deported twice from Turkey last year, local authorities have told Reuters news agency.

He was reportedly deported on July 14 and again on August 25.

Belgium’s Justice and Interior Ministers have both attempted to resign in the wake of the Brussels attacks, but Prime Minister Charles Michel refused the requests.

July deportation
Turkish officials claim el-Bakraoui, a 29-year-old Belgian, was detained in the city of Gaziantep on suspicion of being a foreign fighter trying to enter Syria.

He and two Turkish nationals were arrested for using a similar route to foreign militants wishing to join ISIL and for allegedly being in contact with terror suspects. Both Turkish suspects are still being held, local media report.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was deported to the Netherlands at his request on July 14.

According to the president, both Dutch and Belgian officials were notified of the move.

As a citizen of an EU country who had not been convicted of a crime, he was given the choice of where to be deported within the 28-member bloc, an official added.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-03-25

[khwaibah]

Belgium AND EU get your heads out of your arse.

[SgtRock]

The lack of security and intelligence surrounding these events are becoming worse by the hour.

US authorities know the identity of the third Brussels airport bomber who is believed to be on the run, Sky News has learned.

The man, who was caught on CCTV wearing a white jacket and a black hat before the attacks, is on the US terror watch list.

The information has been confirmed twice by a Sky News source.

Two brothers involved in the Brussels attacks, Ibrahim and Khalid Bakraoui, were also on the list, according to the Reuters news agency.

http://news.sky.com/story/1666588/us-identifies-third-brussels-airport-bomber

The resignations should have been accepted on the spot. With a few more being sacked immediately.

[robblok]

Not only Belgium, he was deported to my home country, the Netherlands. If they can confirm this this should show the government the should clean up their act. They are far to soft.

[wabothai]

Lots of smokescreens and bullshit to cover up for total weakness and multicultural correctness of government officials.

Missed warnings; must mistake us for fools.

Edited March 25, 2016 by wabothai

[TheCruncher]

Belgian officials acknowledge warning signs missed

If the reports from Turkey are true that one of the bombers had been extradited to Holland on the basis of being a suspected IS fighter and that Belgium had been informed.

Then this is not a case of warning signs being missed, it is a case of gross negligence at thee very least.

The guy in question was in October 2010 sentenced by a Belgian court to 9 years in jail for armed robbery, so they must have been very well aware of the guy.

[robblok]

I just read a bit more about this in the Netherlands they are claiming the guy was just expelled from Turkey but without note that he was fighting for ISIS and at that time he was not on any terrorist lists. Now if that is covering their ass or truth I don't know.

[wabothai]

I just read a bit more about this in the Netherlands they are claiming the guy was just expelled from Turkey but without note that he was fighting for ISIS and at that time he was not on any terrorist lists. Now if that is covering their ass or truth I don't know.

These folks in charge of security are running around like chickens without a head, as do the governments. To keep their job.

Europe was sold out many years ago and now they can't stop the process of multiculti.

Seems like the wrong folks in the wrong jobs.

[loogkreung]

I know the EU is a shambles, but at least we in the uk can now vote to leave. I only wish we could have a referendum on kicking all Muslims out of Europe. That'd definitely get my vote!

[Fookhaht]

Interesting that the US Republican Party candidate, Donald Trump, predicted a Brussels attack back in January. It was in a speech where he was describing Brussels as the Jihad-Central of Europe.

Despite all his flaws, this is why so many Americans like the man. He is a political outsider, willing to voice non-PC opinions and information which is normally muted by the PC crowd and reputation-obsessed politicians.

Edited March 25, 2016 by Fookhaht

[stickylies]

I think we should round up all Muslims, arabs, imams, teashops, kebab joints and EXTERMINATE them all. Then I think we should nuke all muslim nations including Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, southern Thailand and half of Africa... Gas all muslim afroamericans since most are criminals anyway. When that mission is achieved we should do the same to pesky Hispanics, lazy and criminal too and recolonize Indochina so we don't have visa issues and can own land... I'm not political correct and gave solutions ready for all problems in the world... ? ? (sarcasm detected. Beware!)

[stickylies]

Interesting that the US Republican Party candidate, Donald Trump, predicted a Brussels attack back in January. It was in a speech where he was describing Brussels as the Jihad-Central of Europe.

Despite all his flaws, this is why so many Americans like the man. He is a political outsider, willing to voice non-PC opinions and information which is normally muted by the PC crowd and reputation-obsessed politicians.

Yeah my gold fish predicted it too... As well as my cleaning lady who went to skool til age if 14. ?

[GeorgesAbitbol]

I know the EU is a shambles, but at least we in the uk can now vote to leave. I only wish we could have a referendum on kicking all Muslims out of Europe. That'd definitely get my vote!

Take care Thailand do not have soon a referendum to kick all English from their country...

If UK didn t had immigration at all it would be a fallen country, like any other european country, or US

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/11832744/Britains-economy-would-be-lost-without-immigration.html

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed. The topic is about Belgium and the EU.

[Fookhaht]

Interesting that the US Republican Party candidate, Donald Trump, predicted a Brussels attack back in January. It was in a speech where he was describing Brussels as the Jihad-Central of Europe.

Despite all his flaws, this is why so many Americans like the man. He is a political outsider, willing to voice non-PC opinions and information which is normally muted by the PC crowd and reputation-obsessed politicians.

Yeah my gold fish predicted it too... As well as my cleaning lady who went to skool til age if 14. [emoji106]

One of the more intelligent rebuttals (obviously highly educated as well, as we can see from the post). God spare us from these towering philosopher-debaters. Edited March 25, 2016 by Fookhaht

[Nicolas32]

BREAKING: Explosion during police raid in Brussels as terror suspect is 'NEUTRALISED'

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/655440/Brussels-bombings-attacks-man-in-white-bomber-identified-US-security-Belgium

[Stargeezr]

I feel sorry for the people of Belgium and other European countries

that have been virtually taken over by the people who are now running

to join the ISIS or Daesh terrorists, so they can get to their supposed

heaven. These people are actually headed for a Hell that even they will

be shocked when they arrive. I see pictures of some places in Belgium and France

and there are likely many other cities, where it looks like you are in the

ME instead. This is not to say that there are not good and decent Muslims

in Europe, but right now with the attacks just starting to happen, I wonder

what the people of these countries are going to think like and feel like

in the not so distant future. These terrorist groups are all starting to

look alike in their fights and so called wars for their trying for owning or trying to build their own country of Islam.

It is all pretty sad, and shocking to watch this process.

[Fookhaht]

I think we should round up all Muslims, arabs, imams, teashops, kebab joints and EXTERMINATE them all. Then I think we should nuke all muslim nations including Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, southern Thailand and half of Africa... Gas all muslim afroamericans since most are criminals anyway. When that mission is achieved we should do the same to pesky Hispanics, lazy and criminal too and recolonize Indochina so we don't have visa issues and can own land... I'm not political correct and gave solutions ready for all problems in the world... [emoji482] [emoji482] (sarcasm detected. Beware!)

O.T.T.