The charges against them are « attempted murder in a terrorist context » and « carrying illegal weapons in a terrorist context ». Salah Abdeslam and Sofien Ayari will not be present.

The post Salah Abdeslam Trial II appeared first on Brussels Express.

In the morning of that day, suicide bombings occurred at the airport in Zaventem and in the Maalbeek metro station. 35 citizen (from 15 countries), including the three suicide bombers, were killed, and more than 300 people were injured. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claimed responsibility.

Now – with the distance of two years – we can distinguish three periods:

1) Shock

On 22 March and during the following days, it was difficult to speak to someone without mentioning different aspects of the attacks: sharing where you have been yourself at that moment; mentioning that someone you know has been either eye-witness, injured or killed; asking for details; commenting on the ability of the Belgian administration to deal with the case …

2) Fear

A certain number of my friends and colleagues developed a sort of phobia; avoiding public transport or looking suspicious at persons who – by their outer appearance – would fit into the perception of being another suicide bomber …

3) Motives

After a certain time, the Brussels attacks became “one subject among others” and the aspects, which still haunts others and me, are the open questions: What have been the motivations of those Mohamed Abrini, Ibrahim and Khlaid El Bakraoui, Osama Krayem and Najim Laachraoui? Where have their families failed? How to avoid looking for scapegoats? How can our society cope with those individuals – and the dangers linked to them – without falling into the logic of a 1984-style law and order state? Where we have failed in concrete integration mechanisms? Why have so many different forms of empathy developed? How to avoid vicious circles …

For 22 March 2019, I have the following three wishes:

1) That the Belgian government will have modified the legislation to honour and treat on an equal level all victims of the attacks (it is inhumane that injured foreign citizen living outside Belgium are discriminated).

2) That the European Union will put forward concrete proposals how to guarantee standards for victims which fulfill the basic demands of dignity, equality and efficiency (it is already a promising sign that the Commission President has nominated the former Belgian Justice Minister to draft an Action Plan).

3) That one of the survivors of one of the attacks (Brussels, Paris …), will publicly apologize …

PS: I forgot to mention. At 09.11 on 22 March 2016, I have been at the entrance of the metro station Maalbeek, when I heard the explosion, saw the smoke and some injured persons coming up the stairs. I saw as well that a man in his twenties ran away, zigzagging to the other side of Rue de la Loi, jumping into a parked car and driving away quite speedy.

The post 22nd of March terror attacks – three wishes for next year appeared first on Brussels Express.

At 7.58 am, the time at which the terrorist attacks took place at Brussels Airport two years ago, following a moment of reflection, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of the victims. Due to a technical issue, the minute’s silence could not be announced in the departures hall as it was elsewhere at the airport. Brussels Airport has apologised for this unfortunate incident.

A few minutes earlier, flowers had been laid at the commemorative plaque in the departures hall by Prime Minister Charles Michel and by Arnaud Feist and Marc Descheemaecker, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Brussels Airport Company, respectively. After the minute’s silence, the victims and their families proceeded to the Sheraton hotel, opposite the departures hall, for a private talk with the Prime Minister.

At 11 am, the commemorations continued in the terminal and in the Memorial Garden, where the victims and their relatives could gather their thoughts and where several people gave a touching speech. A commemorative stele was inaugurated with the names of the victims who lost their lives at Brussels Airport, to remember them always.

The post Brussels Airport pays an emotional tribute to the victims of the 22 March terrorist attacks appeared first on Brussels Express.

Beyond the enhanced security measures (military presence in the streets, alert levels 3 pusi 2, on the territory), and stress still visible in the city, there is the desire to bring life together, and to perpetuate warm solidarity with the victims and their loved ones.

Two years later, we remain united in pain and sorrow with those who must continue to live in mourning or bearing the aftermath of these attacks.

The population is therefore invited to share a moment of meditation and support on March 22, 2018, in several places that have become symbolic of this cruel day for Brussels and the country.

The tributes to the victims will take place:

• At the Schumann Memorial, a small rue de la Loi, between the Schuman roundabout and the Avenue de la Joyeuse Entrance
• In front of the message board in Maelbeek metro station
• In front of the Olivier de Benoit van Innis in Maelbeek
• At the memorial to the 32 trees of the Sonian Forest
• In front of the sculpture of the Place Communale, in Molenbeek
• At the Garden Memorial at the entrance to Zaventem
• At the bus stop « De Lijn », Memorial Garden.
• In Loubna Square Lafquiri

This commemoration is yet another opportunity to express compassion for the victims, but also to demonstrate that the Brussels population of all origins and cultures, remains committed to its values as a unique, peaceful and common life model. Beyond the rejection of hatred and violence, this March 22 must be an opportunity for all to reaffirm solidarity and faith in a society based on respect, sharing, and dialogue.

Let us be numerous in these places of commemoration and express our empathy for the victims of these attacks, and our presence, our hope that obscurantism and violence no longer have the right to flourish in our city and our country.

The post Brussels Attacks: let’s remember together! appeared first on Brussels Express.

The post New website with messages after attacks of 22 March 2016 appeared first on Brussels Express.

A Flower in Brussels

I am neither poet nor musician,
I just wish to be a beautiful part of this world.
I wish to be
a piece of peace, floating in Tigris,
a candle, weaving the cheerfulness in Paris,
a flower in Brussels,
yes, a flower in Brussels.
I would like to be
a loaf in Africa,
a drop of hope in Syria,
the story of a beautiful tomorrow
the mothers narrate to their children before they go to sleep,
the smile on the Iraqi’s child face,
who just lost his father, mother, and all his toys.
I wish to be their concealed joys 
in the remaining piece of the worn toys.
I wish to be
a ribbon of blue news
flapping with the birds that follow the seasons
waiting for the curtain being opened.
I wish to be
the dew on the flowers that reflects hope,
that reflects the upcoming sunrise,
that precedes the darkest moment of the long night,
as the transparent planet abbreviates the ages,
and reflects the colors into the endless universe’s bulk of life.
oh, the dew on the flowers,
how deep you are!
I wish to be
the dance of the wheat spikes on the rhythm of rain,
or the rabbit’s scamper in the moonlight,
the scamper which ignites
a short tail of questions,
just like a meteor,
or the moths orbiting the lantern
like tiny wishes
being pulled to the flare,
the corona of the light
dug in the pale fog 
like hanging gardens.
The inhabitants in there were displaced,
and the houses were abandoned
like another planet’s aftermath, silent.
While I continue walking
in the street of memories,
when the dusk engulfs me
like pots of colors being spilled on the white paper,
carrying nightmares and dreams together,
I absorb some of the colors,
occurring spots of hope,
to draw the exit door,
and  a window for
the ray of the life to leak,
to fertilize the eyes of children 

The post « I see you Brussels » by Ahmed Zaidan an Iraqi poet and refugee appeared first on Brussels Express.

But following an application last week by Sven Mary, Abdeslam’s lawyer, the court on Monday ruled the trial would start on Monday February 5 and run until the Friday, with Wednesday as a rest day.

Abdeslam, born in Brussels of Moroccan origin, has spent nearly 20 months in isolation, under 24-hour video surveillance, at a prison in the Paris region since his transfer to France in April last year.

He has refused to cooperate with investigators and his offer to appear at the Brussels trial came as a surprise.

The post Salah Abdeslam trial postponed to February 5, 2018 appeared first on Brussels Express.

The investigators are still trying to identify these rioters.

• The first suspect is of North African origin. He has dark hair and a beard. He was wearing a khaki hooded jacket lined with fur.
• The third suspect is between the  25 and 30 years-old. He was dressed in a dark jacket and a dark cap with colored patterns.
• The 6th suspect is about twenty years old. He has shaved hair and wears an earring in his left ear. He was wearing a dark jacket and a light hoodie.
• The 9th suspect is of North African descent and wears prescription glasses. He was dressed in a padded blue jacket and a blue cap.

If you recognize one or more rioters, please contact the investigators: 0800 30 300.

The post Wanted: 9 persons for the riots of 11, 15 and 25 November 2017 appeared first on Brussels Express.

During the incidents of  November 11 and 15, sixteen businesses were vandalised in the center of Brussels. In order to support the merchants who were forced to advance fees for the insurance franchise and the security of their store, the federal Minister Denis Ducarme (RM) and the alderman for Economic Affairs Marion Lemesre  decided to provide additional help.

The City of Brussels will financially help those who suffered material damage, if this damage is not covered by the insurance or any other intervening institution. For those who wish to be considered for a financial intervention or are seeking for more information about the exact conditions for the intervention, you can  contact the City:

• By e-mail : indemnisationincidents@brucity.be
• By phone: 02 279 20 20 (between 9 am and 4 pm)

Good to know for the victims: You will then receive an application form which you have to fill in and send (with the attachments) to the City of Brussels before 10 January 2018.

The post Financial compensation for the incidents of 11 and 15 November 2017 appeared first on Brussels Express.

Only survivor of the commandos who killed 130 on November 13, 2015 in Paris, Salah Abdeslam must be temporarily handed over to Belgium during his trial for a shooting in Brussels during his run.

The audience will start at 8.45 am before the Correctional court of Brussels from December 18 to 22. Salah Abdeslam will be judged together with Soufien Ayari – known as the the silent accomplice.

The Brussels judicial authorities aim to judge both Salah and Soufien for the shooting that took place in Brussels (rue Dries) on 15 March 2016, only three days before Abdeslam’s arrestment.

Mr. Abdeslam and Mr. Ayari are suspected of murder attempt and illegal possession of weapons.

The French judicial authorities have accepted to transfer Salah Abdeslam for this trial, but he will go back to France following the Belgian trial.

The post Salah Abdeslam’s trial in Belgium appeared first on Brussels Express.