Brussels Attacks Trial: Court to Decide Fate of Suspects in 2016 Terror Case

On March 22, 2016, Brussels was targeted by two bloody and deadly attacks. The first, at Brussels-National Airport in Zaventem and the second, at the Maelbeek metro station. Apart from the three suicide bombers, 32 people were killed and 340 others were injured.

During the hearings, the federal prosecutor’s office requested the referral to the Assize Court of eight of the thirteen indicted, for murders and attempted murders in a terrorist context, as well as for membership in a terrorist group. These are Salah Abdeslam, Oussama Atar (who would have died in Syria in November 2017), Mohamed Abrini, Sofien Ayari, Osama Krayem, Ali El Haddad Asufi, Bilal El Makhoukhi and Hervé Bayingana Muhirwa, reports La Capitale.

The prosecutor’s office has requested less serious charges against the Farisi brothers Smail and Ibrahim. They will be tried for participation in the activities of a terrorist group. As for Brahim Tabich, Youssef El Ajmi and F. C., the prosecutor’s office has requested dismissal. The December hearings also allowed the victims to join as civil parties.

If the council chamber follows this indictment and thus confirms the referral to the Assize Court of several indicted, the next step will necessarily take place before the indictment chamber. The trial at the Assize Court should begin in 2022, after the trial of the November 2015 Paris attacks, which will begin on September 8, 2021 for a duration of seven months. For the victims who are waiting to heal their wounds, the path still seems long and difficult, the same source specifies.